For Cori Gaddis, a freshman at Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School, the Ohio March for Life meant something personal.

Gaddis was adopted, and her mother considered having an abortion. She said she is thankful her mother chose life, and she wants other women to have the support they need to choose life for their children.

Gaddis and her classmates joined students, teachers and Ohioans from across the state, including students from several Catholic elementary and high schools in the Diocese of Columbus, for the second annual Ohio March for Life in Columbus on Oct. 6.

The day began with a Respect Life Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral and continued with a gathering on the lawn of the Ohio Statehouse and march around Capitol Square.

Gaddis said she hopes women, like her mother, will receive the support they need before and after giving birth to their babies, so they do not feel alone.

“I do support life … but I also feel like we need to support mothers, too, like have that kind of relationship and be hand in hand because when I was born, my parents gave me up for adoption because they couldn’t take care of me,” she said.

“My mom was considering getting an abortion, and thankfully, they didn’t, but at the same time, I see how that was really hard for her.”

When considering Issue 1, a proposed amendment that would enshrine abortion in the state constitution through all nine months of pregnancy, Gaddis said it is important that Ohioans respect life, especially the lives of the most vulnerable. Issue 1 will be on the ballot for the Nov. 7 election.

“I feel like it is important to respect life in all stages, so that means we shouldn’t be killing innocent people. … Me personally, for example, I’m glad my mom didn’t kill me as a child because then I wouldn’t be here today,” she said. 

“So, it’s important to me to be like, ‘Hey, we should in fact support this,’ because it is the right thing to do, to give everybody a chance.”

Gaddis’ sentiments were shared by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. He was given up for adoption after his birth mother, Cheryl, chose life for her son. Husted was one of several individuals, including state lawmakers and pro-life activists who spoke to the more than 2,500 people gathered for the march.

“I am here because my birth mother made a courageous decision to choose life for me,” Husted said. “I never knew about all the circumstances that surrounded my birth until I was in my late 30s. I always knew I was adopted, but I didn’t know what the whole story was.

“I hope in sharing this story I’m sharing with you today that (my mother, who died in the 1990s) can look down on this gathering and feel the love I have for her. I can feel the circumstances that young women find themselves in.”

Husted said his biological father wanted his mother to have an abortion, “but she chose an adoption, and I’m here today.”

Students from throughout the state gather on the statehouse lawn for a rally preceding the second annual Ohio March for Life on Friday, Oct. 6. CT photo by Ken Snow

Natalie Harrington, a sophomore at Newark Catholic High School, was asked by her teacher to represent the school at the Right to Life Mass. She said she enjoyed taking part in the day.

“I just think this march is super cool, and people are really brave to do it,” she said. “(It is) powerful and shows our unity.

“Everybody has life and dignity through God, and this march shows that and just shows our belief and our strong faith in God and how He protects us.”

Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), a state senator representing Ohio’s 27th Senate district that includes parts of Summit County in northeastern Ohio, told the crowd that “it takes courage” to defend the right to life, especially as a legislator. 

She said she leans on her faith in Christ for strength. Roegner keeps the Bible verse Philippians 4:13 on the back of her phone. She said she reads the verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” multiple times a day.

“We are engaged in a battle – a battle for the soul of our nation and for the lives of the unborn,” she said.

Roegner also spoke about Issue 1 facing Ohioans. She said the proposed amendment must be defeated in November.

“There has never been a more important issue in our lifetime,” Roegner said. “Millions of lives are at stake.”

Ashley Zacherl, a freshman at St. Francis DeSales High School, said she wanted to participate in the Ohio March for Life to demonstrate her belief in a God-given right to life. Voicing her beliefs could change other people’s beliefs, she said.

“People should know that it’s important and that every life is sacred and every life is important no matter before they’re born or after they’re born,” she said. “I wanted to come (to the march) because it represents our faith and what we believe in, and it can show others what we believe in.

“A lot of people think that you can’t do much just because you’re a student, like, ‘Oh, you can’t do anything. They’re a kid. Your opinion doesn’t matter,’ but in reality, one opinion can change multiple lives. And that’s my goal – to help people know that every life matters.”