Anne and Alex Go To Washington DC

Anne Carmichael, Law of Life Summit, (Photo Courtesy of Marianews.com)

Toured the White House and Capitol…

Me – waiting at White House gate for the rest of the gang.

…And had to run to get to the Capitol tour on time.

Not the sleet on the ground…

nor the heels on my shoes…

kept me from running.  Well they did some.  I was the last one to cross the finish line…with 90 seconds to spare before the tour left without us.  (You cannot enter the Capitol unless you are part of an organized tour.)

Me…running

Both tours were great – I have always been intrigued by stories of Abigail Adams and she was mentioned several times during the tour of the White House.  She was a remarkable woman.  There have been many great leaders that have walked the same hallways and rooms we toured…it was awe-inspiring to the max.  At the Capitol we saw many more great pieces of art, statues and heard stories about historical events that occurred there.

LIFE Runners Visit the Capitol

After Capitol Tour (Me, Alex, Brianna, Rosemary)

Later that afternoon we headed off to The Law of Life Summit.  Click here to learn more about that event.

The next day, Alex and I squeezed in some time at the National Gallery of Art.

Then off to the March for Life Mini Rally at Lafayette Park, across from the White House.

We ran into  some Vitae Foundation friends…like Mike Huckabee.

Alex and I with Gov Mike Huckabee

After the Mini Rally we processed over to the front of the White House for a Mini Protest.

Then off to a very crowded Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  There were more than 700 deacons, priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals including the Papal Nuncio.  The procession alone took 45 minutes.  We arrived at 5:00 and there were already people sitting on the floors because the pews were packed.  For all of us to be allowed to stay in our very small space ( normally that 4 people would stand in), we had to turn sideways (12 of us) with our layers of clothes on from being outside so long.  It was a beautiful Mass and well worth the wait.

Kathleen Gilbert @ Lifesitenews.com shot this photo of the crowded Mass.

Procession of 700 Deacons, Priests, Bishops, Archbishops, Cardinals including the Papal Nuncio

On Monday, Alex and I metroed up to the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops office.

Alex in Reception Area of USCCB

Then metroed back to downtown area to meet up with fellow pro-lifers.

This was a common scene…pro-lifers and signs on Metros and everywhere.

Photo courtesy of http://www.citizens4freedom.com

Pro-lifers in the house!!

Photo courtesy of Kathryn Jean Lopez http://www.nationalreview.com

I am a pro-life activist.  Have been since I was 11 years old and will be till my last breath.  I draw strength from being with other pro-lifers and being at the March for Life is like what a  friend of mine refers to as…the pro-life Woodstock.

Anne and Alex

Here’s a random video of the March for Life 2012.  To my surprise, it has Alex and I in it.  

We were at 5:57 minutes into the EWTN Video of the March.

It was pretty cool being at the March for Life 25 years after the last trip to DC for such.  I never would have dreamed I would be returning with my 16-year-old son.

I told Alex…”What if it is another 25 years before we return???  I’ll be 75 – I was 25 the last time I was here…”  His response – “We will be back again sooner than that.”  I think we will too.

On the flight home …I couldn’t believe it.  Over the intercom the pilot announced his name – John Testrake.  I looked at the flight attendant and said. “Is that the John Testrake whose Dad was the TWA pilot taken hostage in the 80’s??? She said that’s the one.  If not familiar with him read this article.  (Ronald Reagan was President when the hijacking occurred and he held several press conferences during that 17 day ordeal keeping the American public updated.  Our plane flew out of Reagan National).

John Testrake

I sent him a note and spoke after the flight.  I had some phone conversations with his Dad when he was running for office a few years after the ordeal.  He ran as a pro-life candidate.

Photo courtesy of http://www.catholicvote.org

For all those that shared this 39th infamous anniversary of Roe v Wade together with me and Alex…We are running a long race that began in 1973.

Here’s to you!  Keep on running the good race…the finish line is near.