Fundraiser for March for Life
There are 56 parishioners going from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Farmington to the 40th March for Life in Washington D. C. on Jan. 25, 2013.
On Sunday they will hold their second fundraiser of the year for those attending the march. They are inviting the community to attend their Ole’ Fashioned All-You-Can-Eat Chicken Fry on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event will be held at the St. Joseph Parish Gym in Farmington. They will have all you can eat fried chicken plus mashed potatoes and gravy, country style green beans, corn, rolls, ice tea and lemonade, and homemade desserts.
It is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12 children. Children 5 and under eat free. They will also have carry outs available and a beautiful quilt to be given away.
Proceeds benefit the Washington D.C. March for Life pilgrimage.
“Not only is it an awesome patriotic experience, but a very spiritual experience of standing up and witnessing the dignity of human life,” said Fr. Rickey Valleroy.
While the group is in Washington D. C. they will be laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, pray the rosary in front of Supreme Court building, have mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, Stop in Shanksville, Pennsylvania to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial and Touring Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison.
This year they have all ages going. The youngest is 5 years old and they have two families of three generations going together. The group will be leaving Jan. 22, 2013 and returning Jan. 27, 2013.
According to the Marchforlife.org website, late in Oct. 1973, grassroots pro-life leaders became concerned that Jan 22, 1974, might come and go without properly memorializing the Supreme Court’s infamous abortion decision and without petitioning Congress for redress.
No established right-to-life organization was prepared to undertake the planning, financial and operational responsibilities for a high impact prolife March on the U.S. Capitol. But, grassroots pro-lifers wanted to march. About 30 pro-life veterans resolved themselves into a committee and began making plans for the first March for Life.
On Jan 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 pro-life Americans rallied that day on behalf of the sanctity of life.
In 1974, the March for Life was incorporated as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization.
The numbers have gradually risen through the years despite reduced numbers due to bad weather in 2000 and the terrible 9/11 attacks just months before the March 2002. The group says the growing numbers give testimony to the increasing ranks of pro-life Americans and the importance of the group’s work.
This is the eighth year St. Joseph has participated in the rally.
