To the editor:
My heroine, Nellie Gray, founder of the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., died August 13, 2012. I mourn and celebrate her death.
Mourn, because of her death after being a beacon of inspiration to all who respect human life, from conception to natural death. Celebrate, because Nellie has come to her Heavenly reward where she can sing, dance, and praise God forever.
Following is one of the last e-mails sent by Nellie Gray as she was preparing for the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, January 22, 2013. She said:
“The purpose of the March for Life is still to overturn Roe v. Wade and gain protection for the right to life of each born and pre-born human — no exception and no compromise! This purpose is expressed in the Life Principles which the March for Life Board of Directors adopted at its beginning in 1973, and which we will continue to restate in prayer at our 40th annual March for Life, January 24-25, 2013.”
What struck me about Nellie is that, the older she got, the greater were the number of marchers. Over 400,000 pro-lifers are expected to march this year, with the majority of participants being younger than 25 years of age. Nellie had the gift of motivating people to action to praying and to pro-life actions. What are you and I doing in this regard?
Watch this event on EWTN, beginning at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 25, the only media with live coverage. How fitting, the theme of the 2013 event is Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.”
Sr. Rosalia Bauer FSPA, R.N., Beloit