Start Planning for January 22nd Now.

It's hard to believe that on top of celebrating our electoral victories, we'll celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's in short order. Soon thereafter, pro-lifers observe another annual event, as depressing as Christmas is uplifting: the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Certainly, with the overwhelming success of pro-life candidates on November 2, particularly President George W. Bush's re-election and the seven new pro-life senators elected, the pro-life movement is as optimistic as it has ever been since Roe legalized abortion on demand.

But January 22, 2005 will shortly come, and we need to remind Americans that abortion on demand is still legal. Pro-lifers will gather in their communities, in their churches, in their state capitals, and in Washington, D.C., to solemnly commemorate the anniversary that reminds America that over 44 million unborn children have been legally killed and their mothers wounded by abortion. And until the carnage is stopped, nearly 3,600 babies will die every day.

We don't know how long it will continue, but in the meantime, we must be vigilant in witnessing to the sanctity of life.

January 22 is the fitting day to plan an event that educates your community and memorializes the tragedy of abortion. Some of the most popular January 22 chapter activities include prayer vigils or breakfasts, signature ads in the local newspaper, "cemeteries of the innocents," and participation in statewide or national marches that promote the protection of human life.

At vigils and prayer breakfasts, programs include mixtures of music, educational, and inspirational talks; and prayer. Speeches by activists, college students, pastors, and doctors are all common features of these events. The crowd is usually updated on the current status of pro-life legislation and educated about issues such as abortion's impact on women and how a pro-life doctor approaches the abortion issue.

Signature ads - - ads that are comprised of the names of pro-lifers in your community - - are very effective in many ways, as a consciousness-raising and educational tool, for chapter promotion, and even fundraising for your lifesaving work. Showing the names of hundreds or thousands of pro-life citizens in the community also shows the magnitude of pro-life support. NRLC has a variety of ads available for chapter use, free of charge.