BISBEE — They started lighting candles precisely at 6 p.m. to the rich, resonating chimes of church bells. In observance of World AIDS Day, three Bisbee churches, as well as the city’s firehouse, rang bells Monday evening while a procession solemnly made its way to the Covenant Presbyterian Church Annex for an observance ceremony.

Sitting in a circle, they listened to the messages of AIDS victims from around the world, read by different members of the audience. Fifteen people whose lives have been impacted by AIDS wrote heartfelt messages about the need for heightened HIV and AIDS awareness, along with urgency of wiping away the stigma associated with the deadly disease.

Keynote speaker Tim Van Nattan, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1983 and is an outspoken advocate for AIDS awareness, was invited to the event by organizer Reverend Sandra Jean, as keynote speaker.

“World AIDS Day was created in 1988 by the World Health Organization to remember those who have passed to this disease, and those who struggle with its daily challenges,” Van Nattan said. In every time zone throughout the world on Dec. 1st, starting at the International Date Line, candles are lit at 6 p.m. and allowed to burn for one hour. Candles are burning for 24 hours on Dec. 1st every year.

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“My list of people who have died as a result of this disease, as of last week, now stands at 198 people,” Van Nattan stated during his opening remarks.

He reminded attendees that the stigma attached to those with HIV is a huge problem throughout the world, and one that needs to be eradicated.

HIV is now sweeping through the heterosexual community in the U.S. and Cochise County, he added. The spread of HIV is recent years is something Van Nattan believes is generated by the stigma that has gone unchecked in this country. He urged the audience to push for HIV awareness in schools and stressed the urgency of better HIV/AIDS information dissemination.

“Remember, if you have not been in a committed and closed relationship for the last 12 years, there is every possibility that you could well be one of the suspected 300,000 Americans that are infected and don’t even know it,” Van Nattan warned.

He challenged the audience’s religious leaders to start taking a more proactive stance with their congregations when it comes to protecting themselves against HIV.

“Shame on you for not embracing condom use,” he said. “How sinful is it to leave out the knowledge that will prolong the lives of those in the church, rather than to love them enough to teach the reality of a disease that will kill with a very long and protracted misery that is difficult to describe?”

Sue Moore, who works for the LifeCare Center in Sierra Vista, attended the AIDS observance to show support for “all people infected with HIV/AIDS. And I known Tim (Van Nattan) and I came here to show support for him.”

Sherri Wooldridge attended the event with her two young grandchildren. “I come to these AIDS events every year, and am amazed by the fact that people chose to ignore this as a serious health problem,” she said. “I got my very first AIDS awareness pin from a guy who has since died from the disease.”

As health chairperson for the Greater Huachuca Area NAACP, Murryelle Bothwell said that she’s involved with AIDS awareness events because of the number of African Americans, particularly African American women, that are infected with HIV/AIDS. “The African American community tends to put their heads in the sand when it comes to HIV/AIDS. There is a stigma associated with this disease that we need to work hard to get rid of,” she added. “The NAACP is trying to raise AIDS awareness among the African American community.”

Steve Clark lived in San Francisco in the early 80s, and remembers “being petrified” by the number of close friends he knew who had been diagnosed with HIV infections.

“Back then the treatments weren’t as successful as they are now,” he said. “My address book is 75 percent wiped out because of this disease. At that time HIV was a death sentence. Treatments are much more successful now.”

Naco resident John Duran was part of an HIV support group for a long time. He counseled young people, some who lost their fight against AIDS. “I’m here as a show of support,” he said.

In his closing remarks, Van Nattan thanked those who attended the event.

“I would like to embrace your attendance to this very important observance of World AIDS Day ... and I implore you to make everyday a World AIDS Day observance.”

Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.