Annual Life Chain Seeks to End Abortion by Joseph Deinlein, published in The Evening Sun on Sunday, October 4, 2009.
Diana Wells' sign was clear to those passing her on Lincoln Square in Gettysburg.
"I regret my abortion," the sign read in white letters on a black background.
"Abortion destroyed my life, and only through Christ I found forgiveness," she said.
The Dillsburg resident joined more than 100 people Sunday in Gettysburg to participate in the annual Life Chain, now in its 17th year locally.
The Gettysburg Life Chain is part of a nationwide series of events held in more than 1,000 cities. The first was in California more than two decades ago.
Ruth Santino, president of the Adams County Chapter of Pennsylvanians For Human Life, has participated in the Gettysburg event since it started and recently took over organizing it.
"We're trying to do what we can to stop abortion," Santino said. "We ultimately want to see abortion ended. And we're taking the opportunity to voice our opinions."
She spread the word to 78 churches across the area about the event. The movement is seeking to buy an ad in local newspapers expressing their opinion regarding the possibility of abortion being included as covered care in any federal overhaul of the health care system.
A clipboard, with space for signatures, was on a table in the square and the group asked for a $3 donation to pay the cost of running it in the newspaper.
"Today, many politicians respond by saying that we all should pay for such murder," she wrote in a news release. "Who is going to stop this madness?"
Across the square, Jon Lawrence his wife, Jennifer, and family had the corner next to the Gettysburg Hotel staked out. It was easy for the New Oxford family: They have eight young children. "It's a central tenant of the faith," Jon Lawrence said, referring to the commandment "Thou shall not kill." The family learned of the Life Chain through their parish, Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in New Oxford. Lawrence said the size of his family is an example of him and his wife living their Christian faith. He said brining an end to legalized abortion in the United States would ultimately bring good things on the country. Since (Roe v. Wade) in 1972, there's been a moral downward trend," he said.