01/22/2007

Marching for the unborn

Pro-life group takes message to the streets

By Bill O'Brien

bobrien@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Steve Laske, left, and his wife Lou Laske, of Elberta joined about 120 people in Sunday's Grand Traverse Area Right To Life March through downtown Traverse City.

TRAVERSE CITY — Mary Kelly walked quietly through the streets of downtown Traverse City reflecting on the impact of abortion on people in her life.

"I've seen the results of abortion,” she said. "They're in a lot of pain.”

Kelly was among more than 110 people who took part Sunday afternoon in an annual pro-life march sponsored by the Grand Traverse Area Right to Life. The marchers stretched for more than a city block in their half-hour demonstration through the streets of downtown following a brief prayer service at the Governmental Center. They carried signs that read "Abortion Hurts Women” and "Adoption — the loving option.”

Kathy Plamondon of Traverse City has participated in the local march "ever since it began — way back when” and said she plans to stay active in the pro-life movement.

"It's a reminder to myself and other people of the importance of this issue,” Plamondon said. "We've got to keep working on saving those babies.”

The local march is held each year in January to mark the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion. The National March for Life will be held today in Washington D.C., where around 50 local residents will arrive by bus to take part in the event.

Plamondon said she hopes to return to the national march in Washington, an event that she describes as "awesome” because of the vast numbers of pro-life activists that gather from across the country.

"It's so impressive,” she said. "There are so many people, and it's just so peaceful.”

Kurt Tondreau of Maple City, chairman of the Grand Traverse Area Right to Life Board, said he was encouraged by the 100-plus turnout for Sunday's walk despite the cold weather and snow flurries. Participants ranged in age from children in strollers to senior citizens who've march for years.

"It's a mixture of (people), from the very young to the elderly,” he said. "To me, that's exciting because it shows this issue touches everybody.”

Tondreau said the local Right to Life chapter is among the most active in the state and Michigan's pro-life network is among the strongest in the country.

"We're really a strong grass-roots group,” he said. "That's why we're so successful.”

The Grand Traverse Area Right to Life will host speaker Rebecca Kiessling on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Hagerty Center. The family law attorney and author's presentation "Did I Deserve the Death Penalty?” is her personal story of being conceived by sexual assault and nearly aborted.

More information is available by contacting the local Right to Life office at 946-9469.