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World AIDS Day commemorated with candlelight walk, service of remembrance

Helping to lead the World AIDS Day candlelight walk from CAMP Rehoboth to All Saints’ Church for the service of remembrance are Adam Emel-Firestone, left, and Mike Tyler. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
December 5, 2025

The Rehoboth Beach World AIDS Day walk and service of remembrance was held Nov. 30, giving the families and friends of people who have died from AIDS complications to honor them on World AIDS Day 2025.

World AIDS Day 2025 was a program organized and made possible by many partners, including CAMP Rehoboth, Sussex Pride, the Episcopal Parish of All Saints’ Church and St. George’s Chapel, Community Lutheran Church, Seaside Jewish Community, Epworth United Methodist Church, Metropolitan Community Church of Rehoboth Beach, Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

A candlelight procession made its way from CAMP Rehoboth on Baltimore Avenue to All Saints’ Church on Olive Avenue, where a service of remembrance was held with love, hope and dedication. The large AIDS quilt was on display on the altar. A reception was held after the service. 

Guest speakers gave reflections on working with people who have died and advancements in treatments. 

Red ribbons and buttons were given to attendees to commemorate World AIDS Day. 

For more information, go to camprehoboth.org. 

 

 

 

CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey welcomes walkers to All Saints’ Church.
Pam Jusino performs a liturgical dance to the words of the song “Holy Life Giver.”
CAMP Rehoboth Program Manager Matt Castrina asks for the sharing of a reflection of lost loved ones.
Lynn Lester gives a reflection on her brother, Bob Berryman, who died in 1996.
Beth Cohen, rabbi emerita of Seaside Jewish Community, gives a memorial prayer and Mourner’s Kaddish.
David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, gives acknowledgements.
Glen Pruitt of Seven Keys Consulting gives a call to action.
The Rev. Eddie Jusino of Westminster Presbyterian Church gives the benediction.
Marina Laws, lay delegate of the Metropolitan Community Church, gives the benediction.
The Rev. Janice Bowker, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church, gives the benediction.
Cindy-Lee Dimeglio plays during an extended moment of silence.
The Rev. Shelley D. McDade of All Saints’ Church welcomes attendees to the service of remembrance.
The Rev. Shelley D. McDade of All Saints’ Church welcomes attendees to the service of remembrance in front of the AIDS quilt on the alter.
The Rev. Carla Christopher of Community Lutheran Church gives an emotional performance of a poem.
Jerry Filbin, board president of the Delaware HIV Consortium, gives a reading of living in a world with HIV.
Vicki Gordy-Stith sings lead on “In My Life” with the Alliance singers of CAMP Rehoboth.
Cara Grove, family nurse practitioner, speaks of caring for patients with AIDS.
Brooke Darmstadter, clinical pharmacist specialist, speaks about the advancement of HIV drugs.
Doug Trader, Ryan White program administrator, speaks about people living in the world with HIV.
Ron Parks sings a lead on a song by the Alliance singers of CAMP Rehoboth.
Doug Yetter, artistic director of the Alliance singers of CAMP Rehoboth, introduces a song written by a friend who died.
Candles from the walk are placed in front of the AIDS quilt on the alter of All Saints’ Church.
Guest organist for the event is Jake Darmstadter, Temple University student and organist/music director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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