ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Dozens gathered at the AIDS Remembrance Garden in Highland Park Tuesday night to remember those who lost their lives to the disease.

It was also an opportunity to bring new life to the grounds.

"When I discovered the garden and found out so few people knew about it, I just thought something needed to be done to renew the energy," said Bruce Whitmore, who serves on the Rochester Victory Alliance Community Advisory Board.

The garden offers a quiet place for loved ones to reflect. Trees and plaques around the garden bear the names of those lost.

"If they want to come here and cry, come here and cry. If they want to come here and celebrate someone's life who has passed, do that," said Whitmore.

Whitmore has been HIV positive for more than 30 years and has lost two partners and numerous friends. Though he says that stigma has gone away, people have forgotten the thousands that are still battling the disease.

"When AIDS first came out, it was considered a death sentence at that point, and people's reaction to you was very disheartening,"  Whitmore said. "It's become much more in the background of peoples' minds and that's what I don't want them to forget."

After sharing stories of those who had lost their fight, the group walked on to the University of Rochester, where both treatment and vaccine studies are being done.

"Obviously medicines have helped people live with the virus, but what we're trying to do is actually find a cure, to eradicate it from people's bodies," said Dr. Michael Keefer, who works at the Medical Center.

Rochester is one of only 10 locations in the U.S. participating in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.

"We're looking at all different ways, from the usual active vaccinations to even preventative infusions of antibodies," said Keefer.

Whitmore said the community should be proud to have groundbreaking research being done in Rochester, but that they should also consider getting involved.

He says that HIV negative volunteers are needed for the clinical trial.

"They should be aware of what's going on and participate in the clinical trials. Hopefully in my lifetime, we can find an end to AIDS," Whitmore said.