Beautiful Still -- Part One of Two

Editor's note. Please drop me a line with your thoughts: daveandrusko@hotmail.com.

Last night, in many powerful and moving ways, the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund paid tribute to the remarkable Schindler family-- Robert and Mary, Terri Schindler Schiavo's parents; Terri's sister, Suzanne; and her brother, Bobby.

The recipients of the 14th annual Proudly Pro-Life Award, the Schindlers were simultaneously thankful, gracious, and courageous. It was a privilege to be in the same room with a family whose single-minded commitment to trying to save a defenseless young woman will always stand as the model for the rest of us to try to emulate.

There were many highlights last evening at the Willard InterContinental Hotel that we will discuss in depth in the October issue of National Right to Life News. (If you are not a subscriber, call us at 202-626-8828.) Let me mention just a few here.

Former Congressman Tom DeLay, a tower of strength during the battle to save Terri, was unable to attend. In his place stood Congressman Chris Smith, a man whose capacity to inspire pro-lifers is without parallel.

Even at 9:00 on a Tuesday evening, it is impossible not to be ready to storm the barricades after listening to the co-chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus. His stirring remarks will be reprinted in full in the October issue of the "pro-life newspaper of record."

Then there was Kara Klein. Kara sang one of her songs dedicated to Terri: "Beautiful Still." You can watch the video put together by "Life on the Rock," a program seen on the EWTN, which combines Kara's beautiful voice with photos and video of Terri, her family, and members of the army of supporters who peacefully protested her unjust death.

I am kind of weepy anyway, as my kids will tell you, and my guess is tears will flow when you watch the video. You can see it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rFyfsIHaGM.

MC Mark Larson, a San Diego talk show host, was his usual steady, inspiring self. Mr. Larson MCed the Proudly Pro-Life Awards Dinner for the third year in a row.

Our pro-life President George Bush sent Special Assistant Tim Goeglein to represent him. Mr. Goeglein, who doubles as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, is an old friend of NRLC's. When he spoke, it reminded all of us--as if we needed it--what a gigantic difference it makes to have a staunch, committed pro-lifer at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Bobby Schindler spoke on behalf of the Schindler family, which also included Suzanne's daughter, Alex, who was able to attend. He lauded all who had stood up for his sister, with a special thank you to National Right to Life.

Bobby talked about how a number of NRLC staffers escorted him around the halls of Congress, buttonholing powerful Senators so that they could be educated about how atrociously Terri was being treated. Not surprisingly, lifelong friendships were made around here with a genuinely modest man.

As we always do, afterwards we asked one another how we thought the 14th annual Proudly Pro-Life Awards Dinner had gone. I've been at them all, whether in New York City or Washington, D.C., and this was as gripping, as emotionally uplifting as any dinner hosted by the NRLC Educational Trust Fund.

Over the next couple of days I'll be reprinting some of the remarks. But for full coverage, including loads of photos, look to your October NRL News.  

Please send your comments or questions to Dave Andrusko at daveandrusko@hotmail.com.

Part Two