Somerset —
The many, many white crosses that adorn the front lawn of one local business in town isn’t easy to miss.
But that’s just how those who placed them there want it to be.
“This is about awareness,” said Becky Johnson, executive director of the AIM Pregnancy Center in Somerset. “Awareness for how many babies are killed in such a short time.”
Beginning a little more than a week ago, small white crosses appeared on the front lawn of First Southern National Bank. Those crosses grew in number, until 1,100 dotted the area in front of the bank.
“It is unbelievable,” said Karen Minton, with First Southern National Bank. “The people who have come in or who have called to just say ‘God bless you, thank you for doing that.’”
The crosses can easily be seen by motorists, as the bank is located at the corner of U.S. 27 and West Ky. 80. A sign also informs passing drivers that the 1,100 crosses represent the approximate 1,100 babies that are aborted within an eight-hour period in the U.S.
“We wanted to take a stand for them,” said Minton.
Johnson said AIM Pregnancy Center — a non-profit Christian organization that for 25 years has assisted families facing unexpected pregnancies in Somerset — and First Southern have long been partners in a number of efforts.
That’s why Johnson thought of them when trying to think of a location for the crosses.
“We’ve never done anything to this extent,” said Minton. “We’ve been supporters of them (AIM Pregnancy Center) for a long time.”
Minton said the bank, and its employees, didn’t hesitate to join in the effort.
“I think that’s what makes First Southern different,” said Minton. “We are a Christian-based organization.
“We’re very proud of it,” Minton later said. “I think all of us here are very proud to be a part of it.”
The cooperative effort by the bank and pregnancy center comes near the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to make abortion legal in the U.S.
“Every time I turn the corner and see it (the crosses), it gives me cold chills,” said Minton.
The 1,100 crosses are based on a number obtained from many organizations from something called the Guttmacher Institute. As of 2008, the Guttmacher Institute reported that 1.21 million abortions had been performed that year, which equals out to around 1,105 abortions per every eight hours. The American Life League, a non-profit organization founded in 1979 that works to end abortion, reported that, as of July 2012, 3,288 abortions are performed each day. That equals about 1,096 abortions every eight hours.
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