Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Community members gather Sunday for the annual Vigil for Life Walk in Hot Springs.

____________________________________________

By Charity Maness

HOT SPRINGS – Members of the community gathered Sunday, Jan. 22, at St Anthony’s Parish Hall to participate in the annual Hot Springs Area Right to Life - Vigil for Life walk.

“This walk is to stand up for life,” said Chris Pannill, Hot Springs Area Right to Life (HSARTL) Vice President, “to let people know that God has given us the right to life.”

The walk began with a prayer by Beth Spitzer, HSARTL President.

“Pray that we respond in kindness to those who oppose us,” she prayed, in part, “and that God be with our legislators to guide them.”

“The fight for life is still present,” reminded Spitzer. “There is an attempt to enshrine Roe v Wade into the State Constitution,” she said of the current effort to place the subject on the 2023 state ballot, asking people to please read any petition prior to signing.

The walk began at the steps of St Anthony’s on University and continued to the four corners at Chicago Street, where participants held signs promoting right to life and spoke with those who had questions for one hour.

Next month, the HSARL will be hosting a goodwill donation movie viewing of Lifemark, based on a true story celebrating adoption, at the Mueller Center February 11, 2023, where South Dakota State Right to Life essay winner Karina Novotny will read her winning essay.

For more information on HSARTL visit hsartl.org.