Travis Hirko pauses at a cross brought by Greg Zanis with the name of a friend who was one of the 12 victims across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting attack early Friday at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. In 1999, Zanis, of Aurora, Ill., placed 15 crosses near Columbine High School to commemorate the victims. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Travis Hirko pauses at a cross brought by Greg Zanis with the name of a friend who was one of the 12 victims across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting attack early Friday at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. In 1999, Zanis, of Aurora, Ill., placed 15 crosses near Columbine High School to commemorate the victims. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Greg Zanis, from Aurora, Ill., writes a name on one of 12 crosses, one for each victim, across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting attack early Friday at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. In 1999, Zanis placed 15 crosses near Columbine High School to commemorate the victims. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Greg Zanis, from Aurora, Ill., places 12 crosses, one for each victim, across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting attack early Friday at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. in 1999, Zanis placed 15 crosses near Columbine High School to commemorate the victims. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Aurora, Colo. Mayor Steve Hogan, right, says a prayer with Greg Zanis, from Aurora, Ill., as Zanis places crosses for the shooting victims across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting attack early Friday at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. In 1999, Zanis placed 15 crosses near Columbine High School to commemorate the victims. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Former U.S. Army Sgt. Dennis L. Thomas, left, who retired in 1992, prays with Greg Zanis, right, from Aurora, Ill., before placing the flag his commanding officer presented him on his retirement, at a cross for Jonathan T. Blunk, as Zanis places crosses for the 12 victims across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo. on Sunday, July 22, 2012. Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting attack early Friday at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. In 1999, Zanis placed 15 crosses near Columbine High School to commemorate the victims. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Greg Zanis, of Aurora, Ill., began putting up the crosses Sunday on a hill across the street from the theater in Aurora.
Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan arrived later, put his hand on a cross and said a prayer with Zanis. Hogan became emotional and embraced his wife.
The crosses are white, about 3 ½ feet tall and made out of lumber. Zanis says he was swamped with requests to bring them.
The 15 crosses Zanis erected near Columbine included two for the killers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. The father of one of the victims tore those two crosses down.
