Residents take part in march

This year marks the 48-year anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court's decision that legalized abortion nationwide. A decision that, even today, proves to be one of the most controversial subjects in this country's history. Last Friday, residents gathered on the lawn of the Sanders County Courthouse to take part in a March for Life and protest against those abortion laws that were put into law in 1973. Roughly 70 people congregated at noon and began the march by joining together in song. "Jesus Loves the Little Babies" and "My Country, Tis of Thee" were sung before the group began their march up and down Main Street.

Jim Krogman with the Knights of Columbus helped organize the event. "This happens nationwide, every year," Krogman stated. "This year we are doing this in conjunction with the marches in Washington D.C." Krogman said the Knights of Columbus have been helping coordinate these marches for at least the last 29 years, and was happy with the coordinated efforts this year has brought. "It's a beautiful turnout," he said. "One of the largest we've had."

Pastor Jakob Berger, with Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Thompson Falls, was in attendance at Friday's march. Berger, along with his wife and two children, marched to demonstrate their support for the pro-life movement. "This all started with Roe V. Wade," Berger said. "We are here to be seen as a visible representation for the other way of doing things." Thompson Falls residents, Ruthann and Larry Mandella were also in attendance at the march, carrying signs that said, "Defend Life." When asked why they were marching, Ruthann said, "because every life is precious to God. God said, 'I knew you before you were in the womb.' He knows how many hairs are on your head, he knows your future, what you will become; and to snuff that life out is the biggest sin in this world." Both Ruthann and her husband believe Friday's turnout has to do with the values of small towns such as Thompson Falls. "People in this community know that life has value," Ruthann said. "It's not like in Billings and Helena, where there has been an influx of left leaning people who try to tell you that an infant is not a life in the womb, it's just a thing," Ruthann said. "Small communities like this have a more conservative value."