Carroll, Fort Dodge students among thousands to march in Washington, D.C.

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Jan. 31, 2008

Sometimes it is hard to find even a few hours to give in service to others, but when the cause is important people often make the time.

Parishioners from several communities in the Diocese of Sioux City traveled 22 hours by bus to petition the Supreme Court to change the court decision that legalized abortion on demand in this nation. They were among the thousands to participate in the March for Life held in Washington D.C. on Jan. 22, the 35^th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.

Among those to go to D.C. were Terri and Dave Prenger. The couple sponsored 45 Carroll area students from Kuemper Catholic High School, Carroll High School and Manning High School. Seven adult chaperones assisted with the group.

This Carroll area group was part of the four-bus caravan carrying Iowans for Life. Other pro-life pilgrims in the group included students from St. Edmond’s High School in Fort Dodge, Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, Briar Cliff University in Sioux City and adults from about 10 other communities in the Diocese of Sioux City.

Alicia Snyder, a student from Kuemper, said she has never witnessed such unity.

"Seeing firsthand how many were marching together shows that this country and its people can change," she said. "I am pro-life but after experiencing the march, I feel even more strongly about the sanctity of life – not only in regards to abortion but euthanasia and the death penalty."

Abbie West, a senior at Bishop Heelan, said she wanted to make the trip to D.C. because she believes in the pro-life movement. Despite the huge number of marchers, which West thought was overwhelming, she found the march itself to be very peaceful.

Sarah Hamilton, a two-year march participant from Kuemper, mentioned that it was an amazing experience "seeing all the different types of people – old, young, female, male – all coming together for a common cause."

This was the first time to march for Becky Pietig, a Kuemper senior. She found it amazing to see the thousands of people walking for the shared beliefs.

"As I looked behind me, I saw people and signs as far as I could see," she said. "I looked in front of me and saw thousands of people walking toward the Capital, peacefully protesting I was one person in the midst of thousands doing what was right and knowing God was walking beside me."

After the march, as they walked to the hotel there was a rainbow. Pietig said she believed that to be a sign from God.

Patrick Luensmann, a senior at Manning High School, said he found it to be an awe-inspiring experience and it gave him hope that support for the pro-life movement will continue to gain.

The first March for Life in 1974 drew 20,000 and it was estimated that 200,000 participated this year.

Taylor O’Tool, a senior from St. Edmond Catholic High School in Fort Dodge, has participated in the march for three years.

"Every year the crowd seems to be getting bigger and bigger and to me it seems as though we are that much closer in making abortion illegal," he said. "That is my goal and I’ll keep marching until it’s accomplished."

Fellow St. Edmond student, Liz Griffin, made the trip for the first time.

"The trip was more than I hoped," she said. "The march was great, seeing all those people being the voice for the unborn and the unheard."

Kathryn Fairchild, director of campus ministry at Bishop Heelan, said she has wanted to participate in the March for Life ever since she witnessed a pro-choice rally.

During the march, she mentioned that they were surrounded by so many people of strong faith and from so many walks of life.

"From a teacher perspective, I thought the experience hit at the heart of everything," said Fairchild. "There were so many opportunities for prayer and to feel alive in our faith." In addition, as Americans, they had the opportunity to express their pro-life views to politicians.

Prior to the March for Life, the youth and chaperones attended the 10 a.m. youth rally and Mass at the Verizon Center.

"The building holds 25,000 people and was filled to capacity by 8:30 a.m.," noted Prenger. "Busloads were turned away or sent to another site to watch the Mass on large screens."

Since the students have found that gathering to be one of the highlights of the trip, she said they arrived shortly after the doors opened at 7 a.m.

Kathy Schleisman, a Kuemper chaperone and mother of five, said the youth rally and Mass was inspirational even for adults. It helped to show that they can make a difference to save lives.

A chaperone from St. Edmond’s, Tammy O’Tool, also found the youth rally to be incredible.

"Spending time with such great students at such an important event is very rewarding," she said. "This experience and supporting life is something these young adults will hold dear to their hearts forever."

Heelan’s West found the rally to be a powerful experience and said she liked seeing "so many young people that are crazy about their faith." Speakers affirmed the youth participation in the March for Life. Another highlight of the trip was seeing Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo at the Monday evening Mass.

Through a papal representative, Pope Benedict XVI made a statement to the participants supporting their efforts in the fight to end abortion. There was also a letter from President George Bush.

The night before the March for Life, they attended the prayer vigil and Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

While in Washington D.C., they also toured the city, visited the Holocaust Museum, Pentagon and went ice skating on the Mall.

Paula Templemeyer, pro-life director at St. Edmond’s, said it was a privilege to chaperone the students for the trip.

"They are our future and they do not take that job lightly," she said. "With their continued efforts and prayers Roe vs. Wade will become a thing of the past and millions of babies will be saved."

She commended Iowans for Life for organizing the trip and recommended that others participate next year.

(Jessica Schultes, a senior at Kuemper, contributed to this story.)