Dec. 1, 2007 — St. John joined with the rest of the globe in observing World AIDS Day, remembering those who died from HIV/AIDS and those still suffering with a candlelight vigil Saturday at Winston Wells Ballpark.
"We're now extinguishing a candle in the memory of all of them," St. John resident Steve Simon said.
Simon said his younger brother, Joel, died in March 1997 from HIV/AIDS. He noted that with today's medical advances, people can live a long life while managing their disease.
About 60 people gathered for the vigil, many of them early arrivers for Simon's Christmas Jazz Under the Stars, part of the weekends 3rd Annual St. John Music Festival. The event was sponsored by HOPE, Helping Others in a Positive Environment, a St. Thomas and St. John-based HIV/AIDS Advocacy organization.
Ivy Moses, who serves as HOPE chief executive officer, said that about 900 people across the territory were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
"Many of those have passed on," she said.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is among the top five areas in the United States in cases per capita of HIV and AIDS. In addition, the Caribbean area ranks second only to sub-Saharan Africa in reported cases of HIV/AIDS.
Moses said that around the world, 14,000 people are infected with HIV every day. "HIV does not discriminate. and it affects each one of us in one way or the other," she said.
Moses and others urged those attending the vigil and concert to get tested for HIV/AIDS at HOPE's mobile van, parked at the ballfield.
As the microphone went around the circle of candleholders, Marcia Gordon, who coordinates HOPE's women's program, said that 47 percent of those infected are women.
St. John resident Alfredo Alejo said that it was important to know about HIV/AIDS.
"The community has to wake up. This is a serious issue," he said, repeating his remarks in Spanish.
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