A Slice of Smith Life: Our First March for Life: In My Own Words and Photos

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Our First March for Life: In My Own Words and Photos

11:39 PM | Posted by asliceofsmithlife | Edit Post

Our family got back late last night from our first March for Life that is held each year in Washington, D.C. on or around the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade January 22, 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. The experience was incredible! I cannot capture all the sights, sounds, hope, and energy into this blog post, but I hope to share our experience to encourage those who march for life each day who can't travel to our nation's capital to continue to stand for the unborn and their mothers and maybe something in my post here will get people thinking and talking about what abortion is really all about.

Here's our family's March for Life experience in my own words and photos:

We traveled on the Metro with friends who we were staying with to get to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to hear the mass that was being said for all the marchers from our state. My children loved riding the train!

This is the Basilica in the distance from inside the Metro. It was at this point here that a lady came over the intercom to announce that a rail had a crack in it and we had to have an emergency stop and share one rail line with all the other trains. We sat in the train at a stand still for almost 30 minutes making us about 10 minutes late to the beautiful mass :( We were proud of the kids for their patience during this time, but we were frustrated we missed the beautiful beginning of mass, but also thankful for a safe arrival to the Basilica.

This is one picture I snapped from inside the Basilica. It is a beautiful church and we visited it as a family a few years ago and got lots of beautiful pictures then.

Here is our family and friends just outside the Basilica before we continued our pilgrimage to the march itself. We had to catch a bus then catch another metro to arrive at the march.

Here's our family in one of the metro stations all bundled up. It was amazing that walking to and from the march was the coldest part of our journey. Once we were in the huge crowd of marchers, we didn't feel the cold so much because people were blocking any wind and body heat kept the chill down (and our winter wear :) )

The Capitol building in the distance as we were crossing the street and heading toward the march which took place around the U.S. Capitol.

When we first got to the march, we were standing on a sidewalk wall watching all the people go by us. There were so many young people, church youth groups, families, and men and women of all ages. We couldn't see the beginning of the march and we never saw the end of the mass of people. Incredible! It was peaceful, prayerful, hopeful, and full of energy as chants were being sung and we heard a group of nuns singing "Ave Maria" so beautifully. We also saw lots of different pro-life signs and I took pictures of some of my favorites:

This one touched me the most: "My Mom had cancer while pregnant. Doctor said, "Terminate." Mom is fine and I'm 12 years old."

"Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want." Mother Teresa

Did you know the "Roe" (Norma McCorvey) in the famous Roe v. Wade court case never had an abortion, but she gave LIFE to her child and put her child up for adoption? Did you know Ms. McCorvey is now pro-life and speaks to defend unborn/preborn life and to overturn Roe v. Wade? You can read more HERE

"A Person is a Person No Matter How small." Click on the phrase to watch an incredible video done by a 12 year old pro-lifer who ends her speech with these words from Horton in "Horton Hears a Who!"

I took this photo as we were getting closer to the Capitol building.

There was a part of the march route where a man with a microphone was standing in front of huge billboards that showed actual photos of aborted babies at all stages of development. Graphic? Yes. Horrific? Yes. Necessary? Yes. Heartbreaking? Most definitely! Like he was saying as we walked by, the word "terminate" and "abortion" doesn't sound so bad to some people, but until people actually see images of aborted babies, they may continue to think these actions don't hurt anyone, but they do. Here is a great link that has many resources, including 15 women who share their abortion stories and abortion photos (I've seen these abortion photos once a long time ago and they made me sick to my stomach, hence view with caution, but it shows the truth behind abortion). Click HERE to view link to website.

Like I said, we never saw the front of the march or the end of it. I've never seen so many people all in one place marching peacefully and prayerfully standing up for all the victims of abortion:

the women, the unborn and the men who have lost their children

The walk itself wasn't that far and long as we looped around to the front of the Capitol building to end the march.

Our March for Life pilgrimage was amazing and I'm so glad our family was part of such a beautiful witness for life. I would like to end this post with this video by Nick Cannon called "Can I Live?" Nick Cannon's mother nearly aborted him. This is a powerful music video based on Nick Cannon's true life story.

I'm linking this post up to Lynda's "A Day in Our Life" Blog Hop

Click button below to join Lynda, Anna-Marie and I for the No Ordinary Blog Hop for the entire month of January:) The blogger who posts the most will be spotlighted next month and be given a Star Blogger Award. Come join the FUN!!

23 comments:

stressed out said...

Thank you Tracy for such a beautiful post. I'm glad you guys got to go.My brother, Joe was there with his students from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh. I am going to put a link on my Facebook page and hope it touches others as it has me.

January 26, 2011 at 8:34 AM

The Adventurer said...

Looks like you guys had a great time. Isn't the Basilica beautiful:) I just watched the video of Nick. I never thought i would hear a rapper do an anti abortion song.

January 26, 2011 at 10:12 AM

Unknown said...

This is the BEST post yet on the March for Life!! Awesome references!!

January 26, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Mom2Seven said...

Awesome, Tracy! I did know that about "Roe" from watching EWTN. You have put together a beautiful post and should be proud of your family for participating. You guys rock! ;)

January 26, 2011 at 1:30 PM

Renee said...

What a great experience for your kids! The article about Roe was very interesting. I hadn't realized all that about her or the case. And I love the video! Blessings!

January 26, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Lacy @ Catholic Icing said...

This looks like it was awesome! Hope I can go next year!

January 26, 2011 at 3:55 PM

Angela said...

This post was so good I shared it with all of my Facebook peeps as well as on the Facebook page. The pictures are Awesome! One of these days I would like to participate in something like this. I think it's so important.

January 26, 2011 at 4:36 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Hi Mary!
Thanks for stopping by and posting a comment! That's neat that Joe was at the march also! I wish I ran into him, but there were so many people there! Thanks for sharing my post on your FB page! God bless!

January 26, 2011 at 6:21 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Hi Anna-Marie!
The Basilica is breathtaking and beautiful! I'm not into rapping, but Nick's video and life story is touching and I hope others will be blessed from his story! It surprised me also to discover a rapper for LIFE! Thanks always for your visit!

January 26, 2011 at 6:24 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Thanks Lisa for your kind comment! I was blessed to be able to travel to the march with my family and I am blessed to be able to share our experience on my blog. I want to get the word out that the March for Life is news worthy. Maybe next year the media will not let us down again...I just keep thinking that if there were 400,000 people marching in agreement of Roe v. Wade the news stations would be all over... We will keep marching on and we shall overcome someday! Thanks Lisa for your support and visit!

January 26, 2011 at 6:28 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Thanks Annita for your visit, comment and support! I'm glad EWTN covered the truth and lies of Roe. At the march we saw one news camera up high on a platform and that was EWTN so I'm glad it was on Catholic TV :) We waved to the camera :) Hope you are having a blessed week!

January 26, 2011 at 6:31 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Hi Renee Ann!
Thank you for your visit, comment and support! The facts and lies about the Roe v. Wade case are stunning! I'm glad you found the article link informative! God bless!

January 26, 2011 at 6:32 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Hi Lacy!
I hope you can make it one year as it was a memorable and wonderful experience! It was a bit stressful trying to keep up with our young children in the crowds, but we had friends with us to help! Thanks so much for all your support, visit, and comment!

January 26, 2011 at 6:34 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Hi Angela!
Thanks so much for linking this post up to your FB pages! I hope you get to participate in the march one day...it is worth it! Thanks for your support!

January 26, 2011 at 6:35 PM

Tiffany said...

Thanks for sharing your photos and thoughts. Fun for me to see the East Coast after experiencing West Coast;-) I just love the story of Ms "Roe" as well...one of my favorite signs! God Bless you and your family for making the trek for life.

January 26, 2011 at 7:22 PM

The Adventurer said...

HI Tracy stopping by today to say Hi and vote:). Ever since you posted the pictures of the Basilica I have been wracking my brain to find an article I read comparing it to the great cathedrals of Europe, but I can't locate it and it is driving me crazy. Anyway it was very favorable to the Basilica and I thought you might like to read it. I am still looking. I might find it again someday:) Hope your week is going well.

January 27, 2011 at 9:44 AM

Susan Evans said...

Wow, I'm just sad that our country ever allowed this to be legal.

January 27, 2011 at 8:12 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Thanks Tiffany for sharing your West Coast March experience on your blog! I loved reading it! The Roe sign is great and I was just sharing some of the truths of Roe v. Wade case to a family member and she thought "Roe" had an abortion.
Thanks for your witness to life Tiffany!

January 27, 2011 at 8:42 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Hi Anna-Marie!
Oooooh, if you find the article let me know. I would love to read it. I have awesome pictures of the Basilica from a trip there a few years ago and I would love to link up the article you are looking for. Have you done an internet search on it yet? That article sounds great!

January 27, 2011 at 8:44 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

HI Susan!
Ditto, but we have the hope and faith that We Shall Overcome Someday!!

January 27, 2011 at 8:45 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

I am submitting this comment from Ellen Gable Hrkach who emailed me the following comment because my blog was not allowing her to leave this message:
Beautiful post and photos, Tracy! I feel like I was there with you at the March! My youngest sister (a Dominican postulant) attended the March with her fellow postulants. My mother (48 at the time) was told to abort my sister and my mother's response was to find another doctor! Thank God. BTW, I'm a fellow homeschooler and my husband and I teach NFP (I write occasional articles for Family Foundations and James and I also create the Family Life cartoons in Family Foundations!) Great blog!

Ellen Gable Hrkach
http://ellengable.wordpress.com
author, "Emily's Hope" www.emilyshope.com (Honorable Mention 2006 IPPY Awards)
author, "In Name Only" www.innameonly.ca (Gold Medal winner 2010 IPPY Awards)
www.fullquiverpublishing.com
www.twitter.com/EllenGable

January 28, 2011 at 11:54 PM

asliceofsmithlife said...

Thank you again Ellen for your comment and sharing about your sister and mother! I look forward to reading your book, Emily's Hope, soon!

January 29, 2011 at 12:00 AM

Jenn W. said...

Awesome Tracy! That is very interesting information about Roe (Roe vs Wade) What a great experience, and such an important lesson for our kids to learn so that they can keep defending life in the years to come!

February 2, 2011 at 9:31 AM