Doves, balloons released during downtown ceremony for World AIDS Day

SAN ANTONIO – Friday is World AIDS Day, and the San Antonio AIDS Foundation held a special ceremony to honor people affected by HIV in the community.

A 21-dove salute and red balloon release could be seen on Grayson Street at Friday morning’s ceremony.

There was also a moment of silence for those who have lost their lives to AIDS.

“People have forgotten about this disease. We are encouraging people to wear red ribbons so that other people will raise the conversation again. The awareness in San Antonio needs to be increased because of the alarming rate here in our own city,” said CEO of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation Cynthia Nelson.

Nearly 40 million people around the world have lost their lives to AIDS.

At the end of 2016, nearly 6,000 people in Bexar County were living with HIV, according to Metro Health.

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Bexar County saw a new HIV diagnosis almost every single day in 2016 -- the highest it’s been in years.

The majority of HIV positive people in Bexar County are over the age of 45.

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