More than 250 people attended the 42nd annual Memorial Service for the Unborn to remember and mourn and 56,000,000 children who have been lost to abortion since the legalization of abortion-on-demand in this country.
The keynote speaker was Hannah Rose Allen, a young woman who experienced two crisis pregnancies, with two very different results.
Faced with a crisis pregnancy while only 19 years old, Allen decided to abort her first child. Shortly thereafter, she became pregnant again and chose life for her daughter, Lily, who was stillborn. Allen delicately explained how choosing life was the better option. She encouraged the youth by explaining that being prolife needed to be a personal conviction not a vague philosophy. The crowd was visibly moved by her story of pain and redemption.
Music was provided by Zion Christian School choir, under the direction of Ginger Pasma.
Grand Rapids Students for Life presented scenarios of children who had been aborted, highlighting the gift they could have been had they been given life.
The opening reflection was given by Rev. Brian Najapfour, pastor of Dutton United Reformed Church, and Lynelle Tyson, board member of Grand Rapids Right to Life, closed the ceremony in prayer.