Wintry weather fails to deter March for Life participants
Speaking by cell phone Monday afternoon, Jayme Detweiler talked of the excitement she felt being at the 34th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. “Right now, it’s really cold but being here is worth it,’ said Detweiler, 17, of Uniontown, who is a senior at Geibel Catholic Middle-High School in Connellsville. “Everyone here is different but we all have one main goal.’
“You’d think the cold would keep people away,’ said John Merranko, 18, of Acme, also a senior at Geibel. “But there’s a lot of people who think strongly of this issue and they seem excited to be here.’
Detweiler and Merranko are two of 38 students and four chaperones who traveled by bus from Geibel Monday to participate in the March for Life. Despite Sunday’s snowfall and Monday’s two-hour school delays, many buses carried local residents to the annual event that protests the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
The Christian Family and Children’s Center in Indian Head took two buses. Greater Fayette Respect for Life in Uniontown combined with St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church in Grindstone and St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Church in Smock to take a bus. Members of Fay-West Respect Life Group in Point Marion and Everson traveled by car.
People Concerned for the Unborn Child reported that local groups were also attending from Perryopolis, Carmichaels and Waynesburg.
Jerry Zufelt, acting director of media relations for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, reported that Bishop Lawrence Brandt is participating in the march. Brandt is bishop of the diocese, which includes Fayette, Westmoreland, Armstrong and Indiana counties.
Zufelt said Brandt concelebrated with several other priests at the Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington Sunday night. Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia and chairman of the U.S. Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, was the main celebrant and homilist. Zufelt said 10,000 people attended the Mass.
In addition, Brandt was a concelebrant Monday morning at the Rally for Life and Youth Mass at the Verizon Center in Washington where the principal celebrant was Archbishop Donald Weurl, former bishop of the Pittsburgh diocese.
Asked about participation in the March for Life from the Greensburg diocese, Zufelt said, “southwestern Pennsylvania has one of the largest regional turnouts at the march.’
Detweiler and Merranko testified to the large crowds.
“There are so many people and so many different signs,’ Detweiler said. “It’s a great experience.’
The students spoke just after the rally on the National Mall took place and as they were waiting to begin the march up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court.
This was Detweiler’s fourth trip and Merranko’s third.
The rally included speakers such as President Bush, who spoke by phone to the crowd.
In his remarks, as released by the White House, Bush said, “We believe every human life has value, and we pray for the day when every child is welcome in life and protected into law.’
Detweiler said of the speakers, “They have a really good message. Everyone’s excited.’
Merranko said, “People say a lot of bad things about the president but I think he deserves credit for standing up against something like abortion.’
Both students said they feel it is important to participate in the March for Life.
“It makes you feel part of something bigger than yourself,’ said Merranko.
“Maybe one person can’t make a difference but if we’re all here, maybe we can,’ said Detweiler. “It’s a great thing to be part of.’