Local youth attending March for Life remain hopeful for end to Roe v. Wade

APPLETON — For the fourth consecutive year, 17-year-old Laura Vanasten joined classmates from St. Francis Xavier High School in traveling to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 41st annual March for Life to protest Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

For the fourth year straight year, Vanasten hoped the 2015 March for Life will not be a protest, but a victory celebration for life.

“Every year it seems like there is more hope. Our hope just grows every year that this law, Roe v. Wade, will be overturned and we can celebrate the culture of life, not the culture of death,” Vanasten said.

She was one of 75 high school youths and 30 adult chaperones from throughout the diocese to travel to the nation’s capital this past week to participate in pro-life rallies and the annual March for Life from the National Mall to the U.S. Supreme Court.

An estimated 400,000-plus people of all faiths were expected to take part in the event.

“Every year that I’ve gone to the March for Life, I’ve grown in my faith so much. It really pumps me up and inspires me,” said Vanasten, a senior at Xavier. “Being in the march is really impressive. With more than 400,000 people participating, I would think it would send a message to Congress to change the law. Unfortunately, we get very little coverage from the media. Nonetheless, I feel we do make an impact.”

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