THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605100201
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GATESVILLE LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
Gates County High School's Performing Arts Building is small. The project it hosted recently was large - The AIDS Memorial Quilt.
They show and tell stories of victims with pictures of things they held so dear, and with tributes from family and friends.
The entire quilt, covering about 14 acres, will be on display in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 11 to 13.
Four quilts, taken from the larger one that is sponsored by The NAMES Project Foundation of San Francisco, a volunteer AIDS awareness organization, were displayed at Gates County High.
Denice Miller of Eure looked at them solemnly. ``My niece has AIDS,'' she said, a result of sex with a man who was a hemophiliac. ``He knew he had the disease,'' Miller said. ``He didn't tell her. He didn't care.''
The Quilt is for people who do care - or will care after they see it. It tells about young people across the country who have died from AIDS.
``AIDS happens to so many people. It could happen to your friends or to you. A lot of people are prejudiced about people who have it,'' said Brenda Edmonds, a 17-year-old junior who, with other members of her Video Production class, is producing a documentary on the school project.
Two related, student-sponsored programs were presented in the school.
``The opening ceremonies were really amazing. They were more than touching, they were moving. I'll never forget them,'' said Beth Lassiter, an 18-year-old senior. ``People have been talking to us about the medical side of AIDS. This quilt is about people. It's about feelings.''
The quilt goes beyond the warnings that students across the nation have heard time and time again: Abstain; be careful; beware. It goes to the heart and mind.
For years, the danger of AIDS has been discussed, pamphlets and helpful phone numbers distributed - the medical approach complete with cold, frightening facts and figures.
Is it working?
In the United States, HIV, the virus that causes the dread disease, continues to spread among young people.
``One out of every four new HIV infections occurs in someone under 23 years old,'' according to The NAMES Project Foundation, ``but many teenagers still think, ``AIDS can't happen to me.''
The four quilts at Gates proved otherwise.
Four teachers at Gates County High School discussed participation some time before Christmas.
``We wanted a way to present a project about AIDS that would have more of an impact than passing out pamphlets,'' said Donna Conner.
Programs involving visiting speakers, and compassionate students, were planned by Advanced Placement english and American history students, and those studying Humanities.
``The quilt overwhelmed a lot of students,'' Beth said. ``It's about feelings.''
Many of those feelings were expressed on a Signature Quilt, a large piece of cloth signed by those who viewed the other quilts and wanted to express themselves.
Some feelings, penned in a book signed by visitors, show that the quilt is effective, that it is reaching the heart.
Comments, mostly from students, used these words and phrases to describe the display: Touching, life changing, forever moving, never forget it, learning experience, very emotional, very inspiring.
The word most often used was ``sad.''
The quilt came to Gates County as part of a grant from The NAMES Project Foundation.
There was no money involved, but all the materials needed to be part of the huge quilt were supplied free of charge.
National panels mixed with many from the local area, including one for Anthony ``Tony'' E. Head, who several years ago, graduated from Gates County High School.
Another panel pays tribute to Robert Jeff Jones of Elizabeth City. Another is dedicated to Ronald Clifford Callahan of Virginia Beach - 1951 to 1992.
When his mother, Dorothy McDonald of Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, found out that his panel was part of the Gates County display, she visited the school.
Ronald, who was a karate instructor and a surfing enthusiast, got AIDS from a blood transfusion, needed after a motorcycle accident.
``I hope the students will learn. This is a valuable lesson,'' McDonald said. ``Each panel represents a human being, a lot of heartache, a lot of hurt.''
Her son's panel includes these words from his sister, Debbie: ``Of all the things it took away from you, it never took away your dignity. I love you big brother.''
Mom wrote, ``For awhile, I held your hands. Your heart I will hold forever. I love you.''
McDonald worries about the lack of love shown to those suffering from AIDS.
``Love them, hold them. Don't be afraid to touch them. They need your love so much,'' she said. ``It doesn't matter how a person gets it. The fact that they have it is so devastating.
``Even though they can't catch it, so many people are afraid of even going into a home where someone has AIDS,'' McDonald said. ``I've talked to people who have been banished from their homes.''
Staying close to the part of the quilt dedicated to her son, she said, ``these panels are a great way to educate the general public. They're not just a piece of material. They are about human beings who didn't think it could happen to them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Dorothy McDonald admires the quilt piece dedicated to her son,
Ronald Clifford Callahan.
THE NAMES PROJECT
The quilt was started in 1987, when Cleve Jones painted the name
of his best friend, who had died of AIDS, onto a 3-by 6-foot cloth.
That became the first panel in the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
The NAMES Project was formed. People from all over the country
added contributions.
``The purpose of The NAMES Project is to use the AIDS Memorial
Quilt to help bring an end to AIDS,'' according to the Foundation.
It says the quilt is displayed to ``remember those who have died of
AIDS, make people aware of HIV and AIDS and help raise money for
people living with HIV and AIDS.''
For information, write to: The NAMES Project Foundation, 310
Townsend St., Suite 310, San Francisco, CA 94107 or call (415)
882-5500.
by CNB