“But having an abortion is not the answer,” she said, “making better decisions is the answer.”
Valles turned her life around for the sake of her baby, securing a GED, undergraduate and graduate degrees. That son has become her greatest source of pride, serving his country in the military and has now given her two grandchildren.
It was on January 19 that Valles addressed hundreds from the High Desert community, representing many cities and faith communities who had come out to March for Life in remembrance of the 41st anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion for any reason throughout all nine months of pregnancy up to the moment of natural birth.
Knights of Columbus Assembly 3344 and Council 11881 Color Corps led the peaceful, prayerful march of families from Palmdale Road in Victorville to the newly opened Planned Parenthood facility on Park Avenue East, the largest Planned Parenthood facility in San Bernardino County. Parishioners from Holy Innocence, Holy Family, St. Joan of Arc, Blessed Junipero Serra, St. Joseph (Barstow), Our Lady of the Desert. St. Phillip Neri, Our Lady of the Snows, St. Joseph (Big Bear) and St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, Yucaipa participated in the march.
Respect Life Advocate Tim Palmquist referenced the late Vice President Hubert Humphrey saying: “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”
Palmquist cited several cities that are currently struggling against abortion facilities, including his hometown of Bakersfield, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Victorville. Palmquist reminded the crowd that “this is Christ’s battle, we are tools in His capable hands.”
Victorville City Councilman Ryan McEachron also spoke at the event, noting that “when one looks to the fundamental role of government, public safety comes to mind…public safety which includes all the people, including those who are not yet born. When we take oaths of office, we pledge to abide by a high standard, we agree to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
McEachron encouraged the marchers to “keep the pressure on, don’t let the fire within you die, don’t ever give up. Innocent children depend on us to protect them.”
Marie Widmann director of the Office of Pro Life Catholic Ministries in the Diocese of San Bernardino.