The Hamilton Heights High School theater students will hold a “Lantern Walk” through Cicero Cemetery from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. The walk will include 12 stops at the gravesites of important folks in the history of Jackson Township.
The Reporter will publish a short biography of each of the 12 individuals in our online editions from Wednesday to Saturday for three weeks, concluding April 15.
Ryan White is featured in today’s edition.
“I am Ryan White. I was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984 after receiving the virus from a contaminated blood transfusion to treat my hemophilia. I faced intense discrimination from my Kokomo community in a time of fear and misunderstanding about the disease, and I was kept from attending school. My family and I moved to Cicero in 1987, and I was welcomed at my new school, Hamilton Heights. Before I arrived, the school corporation developed an acclaimed AIDS education campaign. I raised national awareness while battling the disease and spoke before the Presidential Commission on the HIV epidemic. I was named Sagamore of the Wabash for my advocacy, and the Ryan White CARE Act, providing funds for HIV/AIDS treatment, was passed by Congress shortly after my death.”
Source: Ryan White Historical Marker
Interpreted by Charles Wedmore