Today is World Aids Day and state leaders are planning to mark it in a big way.

At 12:30 p.m., Gov. John Baldacci will join other high-profile leaders in an impressive visual celebration.

A chain of red links, each link representing a person in Maine living with HIV, will be displayed, as well as panels from Maine's AIDS Quilt. Currently there are approximately 1,200 Mainers who are aware they are living with HIV. There are an estimated 500 who do have the disease but aren't aware of it.

Today's event will be held at the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta.

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