Crossroads Missions honors those who lost their lives to homelessness and addiction

About 100 people were in attendance of the Friends Memorial to remember the lives lost

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - For the past 17 years, on December 21st, the first day of winter, Crossroads Mission remembers the lives of those who died homeless or as a result of their addiction.

The Crossroads Mission says it's to honor everyone who has come through their doors.

249 people tied to the mission have died in the last seven years, including those who were part of the program along with volunteers.

Cesar Acosta, Crossroads Mission Treatment Director, says the numbers are growing and this year alone, 10 names have been added to the list.

"You're going to expect sadness, tears, especially for the people that we have here because they're going to see their family members on that wall," explains Acosta. "We have a wall and we name each person and then we will put a cross on the wall."

Acosta says it's important to recognize homelessness and addiction because we're seeing it here in Yuma.

"If we didn't have this shelter, where would they be? Still on the streets. If you go down Arizona Avenue right now, you see people in tents," says Acosta. "But we have to remind them that we're here to help them and to give them hope because they feel hopeless and they feel unloved, so we try to remind them they're loved, they're human beings and we want them to get back on their feet."

Ricky Rojas Jr., a member of Crossroads Mission New Life Program, was in attendance to celebrate his dad, Ricky Rojas Sr. who passed away from an overdose six years ago.

He says the memorial helps him cope.

"It brings a little bit of closure and it helps to have people around me that can understand the pain that I'm in when it comes to this," describes Rojas Jr.

Martin Rios, who is currently staying at the Mission says it's important to be remembered.

"It is always good for us too, even though they are not present with us, wherever they are, they know we still remember them," says Rios. "We have good thoughts about them."

After all the names were called, the ceremony concluded with a musical performance of Hallelujah.

Many families and friends of those affected came out, said a prayer and a candle was lit for each of their loved ones.