October 8, 2000 changed my life forever. It was the day my father died. Dad loved children, especially babies. He was raised in a family of two children at a time when most families in his neighborhood had six or ten! Keenly aware of the joy children brought, he wanted a large family of his own. I am forever grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to have a large family. I am grateful for their love. This past year has been difficult for me because my father was also my best friend. He supported me in everything, and encouraged my pro-life work. He asked me about the pro-life candidates before every election, and never missed an opportunity to vote. When he encountered a small child, he would always wave, smile, and talk to the child. He told me a thousand times, "I don't understand how anyone can kill an unborn baby". He was happiest when his nine grandchildren came to visit. Pro-life values are caught not taught. It was obvious me and my five siblings, that children were important to my dad, not only his own children, but all children. It is no surprise that each of us share our parents pro-life values. Losing a parent changes one's perspective on life. I've learned that life is short. We must make the most of the time we have left. We must appreciate those we love; our families, and our friends. Like my father, we must transmit our pro-life values by living them. We must be willing to reach out in love to others, including the unborn. We must seek Justice for them by defending their right to life.
September 11, 2001, America as a nation, experienced loss and grief. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th affected all Americans and taught us lessons similar to the ones I learned after my dad died. Our nation is grieving but we've been reminded that human life is valuable, that life is short, and we should appreciate it. We saw heroes; people who risked their lives and lost their lives for values greater than themselves. Fire-fighters, rescuers, and police died trying to save lives. The passengers on the plane that crashed in Pa., tried to prevent an attack on the Capitol. All were heroes. They taught us that life is precious, as they lost their lives trying to save people they did not know.
Why is it so easy, so natural, for our nation to mourn the loss of the thousands who lost their lives on Sept. 11th, but difficult for many to mourn the loss of millions of unborn children killed by abortion? Perhaps it is because we have seen the victims the of Sept 11th terrorist attacks. We have seen their faces on photos posted at fire stations, on television newscasts, and in magazines. We read their names in news-papers, on WEB sites and on airline passenger lists. We read about the way they lived their lives. We watch their families and friends grieve at funerals and memorial services, and we grieve with them. Their deaths are a great injustice, we think of their murderers as evil men.
Why is it different with abortion? Could it be that abortion is so horrifying that we rationalize it. We don't want to think of the men and women who promote and perform abortions as evil because they seem so much like us. Some think of them as misguided, but the men and women working in the abortion mills have seen the faces of unborn children, they know unborn children are human beings. They just don't care about these children. We who know the evil that is perpetrated in our country under the banner of "choice" bear the burden of telling the truth about abortion. We know the media will not help. Those who showed the airplanes slam into the World Trade Center time after time, will not; show the destruction caused by a suction machine or a chemical abortion.
We must do whatever we can to help others see the face of the unborn child. Betty Caffrey, President of the Wyoming Valley Chapter of PHL, is trying to purchase an ultrasound machine for their Crisis Pregnancy Center. An ultrasound shows the image of the baby within the womb.
It shows size, movement, and can even show the baby sucking his thumb! In the past, the CPC has sent some girls out to a doctor's office for an ultrasound.. "When I show them the ultrasound, it makes a whole world of difference", said Mrs. Caffrey. A young woman who sees her own child is more likely to give birth to that child. If the CPC could purchase an ultrasound machine, all of the girls who seek help, will be able to see the image of their child The cost of the machine is about $12,000 of which only $3,000 has been raised to date. This is a worthy cause. We hope you will consider making a one-time donation to the Wyoming Valley Chapter PHL 201 South Main St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18702 Write "For Ultrasound" in the lower left corner of your check. Give Christmas present to an unborn child-LIFE!
