The Birds of Sorrow: Giving Voice to Loss in an Age of Pandemic - Irwin Library, April 2025

Names on Block 3730: 

Panel 1: Richard Michael Russell

Panel 2: Paul David Lamm

Panel 3: The Reverend Wayne R. Hanson II

Panel 4: Archie Ross

Panel 5: Nicholas Jimmy Kira

Panel 6: Phillip Carey

Panel 7: Jeff W. Miller

Panel 8: Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis: Roy Hopkins, Darryl Hood, Kevin Phelps, Doug Dulle, Mark Snyder, John "J" Langdon, Michael Elam, David Ramsey, Alan Miller, Matt Callis, Dan Liles, David Neighbors, Nicholas Kira, David Mamula, Randal Fisher, Ed Whetsel, Ty Welch, The Reverend Wayne Hanson, Charles M. Canfield, David Stanhouse, Burt, Denny, Kevin, Jim Weimer, Mike Haight, Mark Huffman, Alan Edwards, Keith Schneider, Gary Buchholz, Myreon Taylor, Alexi Haus, David Gordon, Parris A. Brown, Christian Vaughn, Earl Conner, Jim Lyons, Randy Rogers, Ron Sevier, Larry D. Mac Pherson, Anna Elizabeth Henofer Walters, Larry Barlow, Billy Levelsmier, Scott R. Arendall, Gordon Dove

The AIDS Memorial Quilt digital collection presents digitized records concerning Quilt panels that are more than 25 years old. Records concerning panels less than 25 years old are available onsite in the Folklife Reading Room.

The Library of Congress is providing access to these materials strictly for educational and research purposes.

The National AIDS Memorial and the Library of Congress ask that researchers treat the records within the Archive with respect for the persons whose lives the records document.

The information provided below is taken from the panel maker records to allow the description of these panels, and the people represented on them, to come from those who loved them and made the panel. It is used under Fair Use for educational purposes. To read the panel makers' submissions in full, please visit the digital collection through the Library of Congress.  If you have other reference questions about these files, you should contact the Folklife Reading Room for assistance. Not every panel on each block had records available and if no information is publicly available the panel is not included below.

Who is on this panel?

 Richard Michael Russell (1959-1991), whose panel was made by parishioners of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Plainfield, IN. St. Mark's is the parish of Richard Michael Russell's mother.

Paul David Lamm (died December 26, 1993), from Indianapolis, whose panel was made with love by his sister and niece.

The Rev. Wayne R. Hanson II (1953-1994), rector of the Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, whose panel was submitted by his lover the Rev. Donald A. Melvin. Rev. Donald Melvin wrote a full two-page letter about this panel and about Rev. Wayne Hanson. He said about this panel: "The theme of the cross which begins with the Swedish flag runs throughout the quilt panel...Nowhere was Wayne more at home or more secure than at the altar of God." He continued, "Wayne loved the worship of God, and especially loved feeding the People of God — young and old, rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight — with the Body and Blood of Christ. ... Next to worship, Wayne's greatest joy was music ... He took great pride in having graduated from St. Olaf College and having been a member of the world-renowned St. Olaf Choir." About the bottom panel, Don said: "The expanse of blue in the bottom section of the panel is interrupted only by the shield of the Episcopal Church — the church which, even though often disappointed and angered by its politics, he loved dearly."

Don acknowledged: "The panel was designed by our dear friend Wood Caldwell of Oak Park, Illinois. The two appliques were embroidered by Irma Reinumagi, who for Wayne's last eight months was bucking for sainthood by her constant care and concern for both Wayne and me. The stitching work was executed by Wayne's sister Diane Burdin and her quilting group in Batavia, Illinois." 

He concluded his letter: "I miss you terribly. I'll be along soon. Fourteen years was too short. Love, Don" 

The thumbnail photograph shows Don (left) and Wayne (right) on New Year's Eve, 1993.

The Rev. Donald Melvin died October 1, 1995. He and Wayne are both interred in the columbarium at the Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis. Wayne's sister Diane Burdin made a panel for Donald which can be found on Block 4227. About Donald, she wrote, "It is difficult to sum up someone's life in 3 x 6 feet...Don was a sweet and gentle man, a loving brother, and an attentive uncle to my young sons. ... Don was also a talented musician and composer. He wrote many pieces of music for the church, including a haunting melody written for my brother and played at his funeral." That melody, the hymn tune "Hanson," would go on to be sung at every funeral held at the Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis. It will be performed at the end of the AIDS Quilt Songbook recital on 4/11/2025. Diane closed her letter by saying, "Donald was a precious gift to our family. We miss him and will love him always."

Archie Ross (1949-1993) was born and raised in Indiana before moving to Florida.  His family made his panel to depict his many talents and interests.  As a teenager, his favorite hobbies were music and dance and he was a drum major in his high school.  He became a hair stylist and love gardening, particularly roses and tomatoes.  The description of the panel concludes with, "The sunset, painted by his older brother, was his favorite time of day." The picture of Archie Ross that was supplied with the panel maker files is undated.

Jeff Miller (1964-1994) was born in Tipton, IN and raised in Marion, IN. The poem on the quilt was written by Jeff and he also designed the panel. His friends said, "he became so ill so fast his mom had to sketch it for him. ...We agreed to make it together, but time ran out." They added, "His cough was so severe. His family and friends were very important to him. His poetry helped him express himself because he was a little shy and was a very loyal friend." His mother, Barbara, wrote a two-page letter about him stating, "I believe he would like to be remembered as a compassionate family-oriented individual who cared deeply about others." She ended by saying, "He was more than a son, he was my friend."

The poem can be difficult to read from the ground level of the atrium, and the print is too small to make out at the highest resolution on the Virtual AIDS Quilt.  For accessibility, the text is included below:

A Candle in the Window
Put a candle in the window to mark the day of my birth.
Put a candle in the window for the life has lost its worth.
Put a candle in the window dear sisters, brother, and
his wife, to mark the good times in the early life.
Put a candle in the window mother dear to mark the
bond we shared. Although we yelled at times and
disagreed, I knew we always cared.
Jeff