Dying of AIDS was like ‘disappearing from the universe.’ A new project helps Philly remember

PHILADELPHIA — On June 25, a memorial procession will make its way through the streets of Philadelphia’s Washington Square West. There will be funeral urns carried aloft, shrouds, ceremonial robes, and music. But this will be no ordinary funeral march. In those urns will be the paper ashes of the names of people who died without a procession, some decades ago, too many unmourned and alone. They are among the thousands of Philadelphia area residents lost to AIDS. “I think there’s a hunger in our communities today to say we have so much loss,” said Chris Bartlett, executive director of the Will…

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