MADISON, Wis. -- On the first official night of winter, some area residents gathered to remember those who don't have a home.

Dozens of people attended a vigil in downtown Madison on Monday evening. Organizers said it was held to show support for the homeless community, bring attention to their struggles and honor a life recently lost, WISC-TV reported.

"You know, the things we take for granted -- most of us -- when we cuddle up in bed at night, we forget that there are people in our community who don't have that option," said Greta Hansen, executive director of the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin.

The vigil started at the Madison Public Library-Central Library at 201 W. Mifflin St., where men gather every evening before walking over to the all-male shelter in the basement of Grace Episcopal Church at 116 W. Washington Ave.

"A lot of times, we have to stand out here two to three hours during the day just to get a decent lower bunk or something in the Episcopal Church," said John Duncan, who also attended the vigil and once was homeless.

The group walked from the downtown library to a park bench on the Capitol Square, where they paid tribute to a homeless man who died earlier this year. Authorities found Dwayne Warren dead on the park bench and said he died of natural causes.

The memorial service and vigil was coordinated with a nationally organized event -- Homeless Persons' Memorial Day.

"It's a bittersweet way to really recognize and bring some attention to the fact that there are people who don't have shelter every night," said Hansen.

For more information, visit the National Coalition for the Homeless..