Though Hillsdale’s Right to Life “Celebration of Life” dinner often hosts speakers from all over Michigan, this year’s speaker is local: Father David Reamsnyder from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church will be sharing his and his wife’s personal experience at the 37th annual dinner on April 28 at 6 p.m.
Right to Life of Hillsdale President Bud Vear chose Reamsnyder because he and his wife were told by doctors to abort one of their children.
“They’re against abortion, so they’ll be talking about the interactions they had with the doctors and how they changed doctors,” Vear said. “Now they have a beautiful and healthy child.”
Although Reamsnyder was unavailable for comment, some of his parishioners have heard his story at church.
“I’ve heard Father David’s story before in mass, and I’ve seen little Cora,” junior parishioner Mattie Vander Bleek said. “They have a beautiful story that upholds life.”
Besides the speech, Vear said the banquet will include two aspects unique to this year’s dinner. The first event will announce the first Pauline Libengood scholarship recipient.
“Libengood was, for many years, not only on our board, but also the treasurer of the local group,” Vear said. “She lives in Maryland now, but we decided we’d like to award a scholarship to a student in college or going to college. We got a late start but we do have a very worthy recipient. I’ve also written a brief history about the Right to Life of movement, and that will be available to anyone who wants to get one at the banquet.”
The dinner raises about $5,000 to $7,500, which is then given to the pro-life advertisement campaign of Right to Life of Michigan.
“I’m always shocked by the amount people give,” Vear said. “We have some very big contributors through the organization. We planned the event at the recommendation of Steve Casai. He recommended we have it on the Tuesday just before exams because the study day is on Wednesday, and he thought that would be an excellent time to have it.”
President of Students for Life junior Nicole Chaney will be attending the event along with 16 other students.
“They are donating free tickets to any college students who want to go,” Cheney said. “We have about 17 students going right now. It’s a great opportunity to have conversations with pro-life people from around the state and hear the speakers.”
