NATCHEZ — The number of crosses on the bluff are fewer than previous years and organizers of the annual display are celebrating.

Ten years after Pro-Life Natchez-Adams County started the annual display and candlelight vigil, organizers say much has been accomplished in the last decade.

“I think we have raised awareness,” organizer Ruth Powers said Sunday.

The crosses that stand in the grass on the bluff opposite the Natchez Grand Hotel number 110 this year. Each cross represents the number of abortions per hour in the United States, organizer Virginia O’Beirne said.

At 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 23, the group will host its 10th annual candlelight vigil in the Natchez Grand Hotel breakfast room. At the end of the service, those attending will walk across the street and place white roses on the display — one rose for each cross, O’Beirne said.

In 2007, the group placed 4,000 blue and pink flags on the bluff to signify the number of babies aborted in the United States each day.

Since then the group has displayed crosses. Because statistics show the number of abortions in the United States has decreased, 23 crosses have been removed from the display, O’Beirne said.

The reduction in numbers is cause for celebration, Powers said, but the biggest outgrowth from the annual vigil is the group’s Caring Hearts Pregnancy Resource Center.

“Through the support garnered through this vigil and by this group, we have started the pregnancy center,” Powers said. “Since the beginning, we have served 21 women coming to looking for help to take care of their kids.”

Women who come to the center are provided with counseling, and concrete assistance with everything from baby clothes to baby beds to car seats. Powers said.

“The vigils raised enough awareness that it became the germination of the idea for the center,” she said.

Powers said all are welcome to participate in the vigil.

“The community services committee at St. Mary Catholic Church talked about doing a Pro-Life outreach, and they wanted it to be more than just a Catholic thing. So when we planned the first vigil we reached out to other churches in the area.” Powers said. “Since then, we have had wonderful participation from all kinds of church groups in the area.”

Powers said they also welcome those who want to tell their story.

“As we have done these vigils women have come to share their stories with us of abortions they have had and regretted, of children they have put up for adoption and been happy about and even adopted children have come forward to talk about how happy they were that their mothers chose life,” Powers said. “We have had all kinds of women come up to share their stories with us and about how our effort is meaningful to them.”