About 200 attend Right to Life annual march in Coeur d'Alene

As Kurt Schwab pushed his son and daughter in a stroller Saturday, he carried a sign with a quote from the late President Ron Reagan: “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” 

“Children are the most incredible blessing on Earth,” Schwab said when asked why he attended the Right to Life of Coeur d’Alene’s march and rally. “There you go.” 

About 200 people, including many children, attend the annual event that started at the Skate Plaza and Candlelight Christian Fellowship parking lot on a 25-degree morning. After hearing from speakers, the group walked on the paved path along U.S. 95 to Kathleen Avenue. They held signs that read, “Choose Life,” “It’s a child, not a choice” and “Vote Pro-Life.”  

"It is our duty to protect the sanctity of life,” said Deacon Andy Finney of St. Thomas Catholic Church.

Some drivers passing by honked horns and marchers waved back during the peaceful demonstration.

Bob Moate of Coeur d’Alene said he wanted to honor God by participating in the march.

“The Lord has blessed this nation, blessed this people,” Moate said. “He does not agree with us aborting children.” 

Janet Ackerman and Debbie Colwell, lifelong Catholics and longtime educators, waited to cross the street at the corner of U.S. 95 and Hanley Avenue. They said life is a gift that must be protected. 

“It is the greatest gift, just like Jesus,” Ackerman said.  “Every child is precious.” 

“It’s what we believe,” Colwell said. 

Finney delivered a short speech before the march. He said he wanted to talk about the end of life rather than the beginning. 

Finney said when people get older, they face physical and mental challenges that can make them feel like a burden to their family and of no value. 

“Younger generations need to look upon these elders with a new light and protect them,” he said. “Protect them from the evils of euthanasia and help them remove those feelings of worthlessness by giving them a sense of value.” 

Finney called on people to have compassion for the elderly, listen to them, be aware of their good days and their bad, let them reminisce and help them maintain their dignity. 

“They have lived the history that we read about,” Finney said.  

If you don’t know what to say, Finney said to ask God for his wisdom. 

“Sometimes, all that’s necessary is, ‘I love you,’” he said. 

Steve Skreenock, a member of the Knights of Columbus who was helping direct the crowd as they crossed Dalton Avenue, said he is pro-life, from conception to natural death. 

“I don’t believe all these things that are happening, people thinking life is not important,” he said. “It is.” 

    Janet Ackerman, left, and Debbie Colwell participate in Saturday's Right to Life march in Coeur d'Alene.
  

    People stand at Dalton Avenue and U.S. 95 at the start of Saturday's Right to Life march.