COEUR d'ALENE - An estimated 250 marchers strong, a long procession of sign-waving activists walked through downtown Coeur d'Alene on Saturday morning.

The 31st annual Right to Life March and Rally began at Independence Point, ambled eastward down Sherman Avenue, turned left at 10th Street and finished up at the St. Thomas Center.

"This is, I think, the greatest number of folks we've ever had," said Right to Life Chairwoman Mary Newman, who's been involved since 1983. "(Abortion) is really on their minds right now. We are extremely thankful and happy for the turnout, for life."

Participants strolled quietly, letting their signs do the talking. Most carried the standard picket-line variety, while a few held wide banners that crossed the entire sidewalk. "Abortion Hurts Women," "Save the Baby Humans" and "Adoption: The Loving Option," the signs read.

Anna Vogel marched with her five young children in tow. It was her third Coeur d'Alene March for Life, she said, and she wanted other women to realize that abortion is not their only choice.

"I have given a child up for adoption, so I know what it entails," said Vogel, of Post Falls. "I think (mothers) just need a little support, to know that there are other options out there."

After the march, participants stacked their signs and gathered in the basement at St. Thomas, where Right to Life staffers served hot chocolate, coffee and cookies. Some marchers chatted with Evelyn Montreuil, the 85-year-old founder of the Coeur d'Alene Right to Life chapter, who led the first local march in 1981.

The event has taken place every January since, coinciding with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in 1973.

"It was a really good turnout," said 20-year-old Mariette Osen of Post Falls. "I've done marches probably four or five times in different cities. We need to raise awareness of what's going on. The sign I carried today said 'Abortion Kills Children,' and that's the truth."

Sarah Zint of Hayden was another young person who marched Saturday.

"(Mothers) need support," she said, "other than just having an abortion. I think (the march) was good. It was good weather and everything - sunshine."

The event's guest speaker was pro-life advocate Jodi Wagner, a Spokane pharmacist. She discussed contraceptive methods that occasionally trigger abortions.

A member of Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls, Bob Cloutier read about the march on a bulletin board and decided to participate. He had never marched in Coeur d'Alene before, he said.

"It was very, very nice. Beautiful day," Cloutier said. "It's all done for the greater glory of God, to end abortion."

He said he will probably attend next year's event, too. Quoting Mother Teresa, he added, "No society can survive if it allows its mothers to kill its children."

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