BUCKHANNON — On Saturday afternoon, approximately 60 individuals from Upshur and Lewis counties gathered at Jawbone Park to participate in the 38th Annual Upshur County Right to Life Rally and Walk for life.
Participants and organizers of the event came together to “show support for the unborn and to memorialize the 60 million babies that have been aborted since Roe v Wade in 1973,” expressed Upshur Co. Right to Life President Maureen Hull. Several participants held pro-life signs and crosses as they traveled the streets of Buckhannon on the sunny, Saturday afternoon.
Local Pastor and guest speaker Doug Spears relayed to the crowd the impact abortion has had on his own life. He began his message by stating, “My name is Doug and I am pro-life.” Spears recounted the two occasions he and his partner at the time, visited abortion clinics, prior to becoming pro-life. He stated that during that time he wasn’t “pro-choice” per say, but rather “pro-Doug.” When referencing the atmosphere at the abortion clinics, Spears explained, “The place was packed. We in America have made murder look like a doctor’s procedure—like if you’re going in to get a tooth pulled or to get something extracted.” Spears emphasized, “But it is so much more than just a procedure.”
Spears also compared abortion to homicide of a pregnant woman in saying, “I know if I were to go out and kill a pregnant woman that I would get convicted for two homicides. So, if it is a life in one aspect, why is it not a life in another aspect? It’s a double standard that our own government is setting.” Spears also referenced bible verse Jeremiah 1:5, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” He added, “God had a plan for Jeremiah even in the womb. And God had a plan for the 60 million babies that were killed.”
He also noted that he was not beating anyone down who has had an abortion and expressed, “God’s grace is greater than anything individually we can do. But I don’t think we are out here for the individual—I think we are out here as the whole. As us in America and what we allow and what we call right and what we call wrong.” Spears emphasized that there are a lot of other options besides “that”, referencing abortion. “Just remember, that the unborn is a life. And it’s a life that I believe you don’t have the right to take… Give the world a life. You never know the purpose and plan God has for that child. He might be the one that cures Alzheimer’s, or cures Cancer. You just don’t know what God’s got in store,” he said in closing.
Pastor Dave Riddle from Weston provided the invocation prior to Spears speaking and a short message following. Pastor Lewis from Tallmansville Baptist Church donated tomato, cucumber and pumpkin plants to be given out to any individual who wanted them. Local band Free Indeed performed inspirational songs throughout the event. Pizza and drinks donated from local establishments and door prizes were provided at the end of the walk. Two members of Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) escorted the group for safety purposes as they made their way through town.
Some noteworthy participants of Saturday’s Right to Life Rally and Walk consisted of Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Caleb Hanna; field representative for Congressman Alex Mooney, Rhett Dusenbury; Director of the Central WV Center for Pregnancy Care, Barbara Kincaid; President of the Central WV Republican Women, Jeanie Hawkins; Upshur County Commission President Kristie Tenney; President of Lewis County Right to Life, Judith Barrett; and several community members from Upshur and Lewis counties.
Delegate Caleb Hannah explained to The Record Delta why he participated in the Right to Life Rally and Walk Saturday afternoon. He expressed, “Any time the pro-life movement has an event, I like to be there. Somebody has to be a voice for those who can’t stand up and voice their own opinion. It’s an important issue to me.”
President Maureen Hull mentioned all of the churches that have made their pro-life billboards on Route 33 West, as well as one near Lost Creek and one at Elk View possible. Following are the list of churches mentioned: The Buckhannon Church of the Nazarene, Christian Fellowship Church, New Life Southern Baptist, Liberty Baptist Church, South Buckhannon Mission Church, Independent United Brethren, Good Hope Tabernacle, Wayside Southern Baptist, The Way of Holiness, Sand Run Baptist Church, Sago Baptist Church, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, The Living Word Church of God and Latter-Day Saints Members. The following restaurants and establishments also donated food and refreshments: Sam’s Pizza, Papa Johns, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Fox’s Pizza, Legends, Dairy Queen, Sweet-A-Licious, Shop ‘n Save, Anita’s Flower Shop, Walmart, and Fast Stop Vicksburg Mart.
If you are interested in joining a local Right to Life organization, the Upshur County Right to Life group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Wayside Baptist Church on the Brushy Fork Road. Lewis County’s Right to Life meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at New Life Southern Baptist Church in Weston.