The public is invited to attend the dedication of a memorial garden to Henry Joseph Nicols, who died in May of 2000 of complications from AIDS following an automobile accident.

Cooperstown Boy Scout Troop 1245 BSA will dedicate the garden at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the entrance to the Cooperstown Central School.

Nicols, a former resident of Cooperstown, was the first disclosure of a child with AIDS in a school in the United States, said Ron Conger, Scoutmaster. Nicols began an AIDS awareness program which bloomed into an international AIDS education program that continues to make a significant difference in the world.

"Henry had a very big impact on the scout troops. We wanted to do something to honor Henry and his memory," said Ann Capozza, whose son is in the troop and had been inspired by Nicols. He too had gone on to earn his Eagle Scout badges, which is the highest rank within the Boy Scouts.

The memorial garden is dedicated to Henry and is a thank you to the Cooperstown Community for their support of his efforts, said Conger.

It was purchased and will be maintained by the Boy Scout Troop 1254, said Capozza.

At the age of 10, Nicols acquired HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from one of the more than 400 transfusions he received to treat his Hemophilia. Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder that prevents the blood from clotting. For five years, his family kept this illness a secret from everyone and even traveled 200 miles to treat his illness, explained Conger.

In March 1991, at the age of 17, Nicols had been infected with AIDS. It was a panicky time since the only other awareness was in a school in Florida regarding Bryan White, said Tony Scalici, a member of the Cooperstown Scout Troop.

At the time, Nicols was looking for something to do for his Eagle Scout project, said Scalici. He went before the school board and explained he wanted to conduct an AIDS awareness program within Cooperstown classrooms.

"The school didn't harass, but supported Henry and let him carry out his project," said Scalici.

It was then that Nicols announced at a press conference that he had AIDS. The Cooperstown school and community rallied to support Nicols, and his family, said Conger.

"Immediately following the press conference, TV reporters came to Cooperstown to try to interview Henry at our home. No one would tell them where we lived. People were trying to protect us. Throughout the entire ordeal of Henry's illness, the people of Cooperstown were great," Henry's father, Hank said.

Henry Nicols and his sisters, Jennifer and Diana and parents Hank and Joan, all became AIDS activists. They traveled throughout the United States, and to Canada, Japan, and Ireland. Nicols and his sisters testified before the US Congress and met with Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton.

Nicols' sister, Jennifer, continues to do AIDS education by working with the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. She is also a doctoral student at Columbia University in New York City.

Dr. Douglas Bradshaw past superintendent of Cooperstown Central School, and Michael and Debbie Ryan, producers of the HBO documentary, "Eagle Scout, the Henry Nicols Story" are planning on attending the dedication.