When the National DWI Victims' Memorial of Perpetual Tears planted 914 markers in 2006, it was to commemorate the number of DWI deaths in New Mexico the previous five years.

The idea was to remove, or add, markers to reflect the most current numbers.

On Wednesday, 100 black plastic covers were placed on markers to show the reduction of DWI deaths in New Mexico during 2007 and 2008. And the breakfast under a tent at the memorial was held not only to celebrate the drop, but to remind people that there were still 814 white markers with a teardrop. The goal, said the memorial's founder, Sonja Britton, is to have an empty field.

The memorial was built with public funds and private donations, but with the economy in the doldrums, money for continued work, such as the construction of a learning center, is hard to come by. Britton, along with Torrance County Magistrate Steve Jones and state Sen. Kent Cravens appealed to those gathered for donations to keep the work going.

The event started with a downpour, a welcome sight in the Estancia Valley, and ended with a break in the clouds so that 100 markers could be covered. Overall, not a bad day.