Stanek weekend question: How do you want to be remembered?
Yesterday came the tragic news that young pro-lifer Andrew Moore, age 20, (not my son-in-law) of Concord, California, was struck and killed by a car while walking in Indiana as part of the Crossroads summer sojourn to raise awareness against abortion. Reported LifeNews.com:
At the time of his death, Moore, a Catholic, was reportedly praying the rosary.
Moore was participating in the Crossroads Walk Across America – five separate, simultaneous journeys of college students traversing the U.S. and Canada in defense of the unborn. A rising junior from Concord, California, Moore was part of the Central Walk, which began in San Francisco on May 19 and will conclude in Washington, D.C., on August 9.
On the group’s website, Moore, 20, talked about why he joined the Crossroads tour.
“I heard about Crossroads from (Jason Handcock, a Crossroads director) when he gave a talk at Thomas Aquinas College. I had already been involved in the pro-life movement for several years: when I am at home I pray in front of the local abortion mill almost every day, and try to speak to the people going in,” he said.
Moore added, “Crossroads sounded like a good way to serve God and help His children. Having hardly ever left California and my sedate suburban life I was also interested in seeing the country, meeting new good people, and just doing something crazy! I have been considering a vocation to the priesthood for some time and Crossroads is a great way to work on my discernment: prayer, sacrifice, and separation from the distractions of the world.”
I was so sorry to learn of Andrew’s death. He sounds like a wonderful young man, in a sense a martyr for the preborn.
Here were some of the news headlines:
Meanwhile, a man named Michael Judge, from North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was found dead on a running track on July 19, apparently of natural causes while exercising.
Michael was a “well-known area anti-abortion activist,” according to The Sun Chronicle, hence the photo, right, and these headlines:
This all got me to thinking that when I die I probably will get headlines along these lines. I expect I will foremost be known for the stand I took against abortion. And although I am foremost a wife, mother, and grandmother, to be remembered for this would be a good thing.
How do you want to be remembered? Do you think your stand against (or for) abortion will be part of your obituary?
Again, we are so sorry for these losses of pro-life stalwarts.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I have absolutely no doubt that my pro-life stance will be featured in my obituary. That’s as it should be.
While I understand Andrew’s dedication and devotion to his cause, and I’m sorry for his family and their loss, I can’t help thinking that it’s not exactly the safest or smartest place to be walking at that time of the morning.
@Jennifer – this is a team of walkers, usually accompanied by assistance cars, signs, etc. This young man should have been accompanied, well-lit and any driver should have been for-warned of the special pedestrians. One young woman from our church did that walk a few years ago…
Let’s keep praying for all the victims of senseless acts – purposeful and accidental (I’m thinking of Andrew, and also of the victims of the Colorado shooting and abortion too).
@Joy I just remember a close call that I had with a bicycle rider while driving along a US Highway on my way to work one morning. If I hadn’t braked just in the nick of time I might have accidentally hit someone like this young man was hit–and I’m not sure that would be something I could live with. My dad witnessed his best friend being killed by a car when he was six years old and he still has trauma from it. According to the news reports I was reading, he and another young man were dropped off on this roadway–since the accident took place at 5 AM I’m guessing it was still quite dark when they were let out. It just doesn’t sound safe.
It could very well be that Andrew’s pro-life work will be unbelievably effective from his heavenly abode than from here.
But that still doesn’t diminish the sense of loss.
I can only hope my family would put my founding of Silent NO More MN and the work I do as a part of my life’s work in my obituray. Maybe I should write my own. LOL
Oh man, I’m sorry to hear about Andrew’s passing and I don’t live too far from where the accident happened so I wonder why I didn’t hear about the Crossroads walk in the news until the accident.
Many must look at those headlines and photos of police involvement and think, “How odd this person was!”
We have to work for the day when the same headlines and photos will make most think, just like they do of the abolitionists, ”How brave and right this person was!”
I am now an older man who from his youth desired to know, live for and serve God and Christ in Evangelical ministry. After finishing years of schooling I endured a great trial of faith that was never resolved and with regret gave up the aspiration of religious work. To know God, live a righteous life, and hopefully participate in a great spiritual, moral and cultural revival or renewal in our nation has been at the center of my desires all my life.
Being a lifelong celibate bachelor who has no surviving near relatives, I composed a rough draft of my own obituary and have left a copy at the funeral home in the rural county where I grew up and will be buried. I did not include references to my own trials in life. One of the things I did include was the following sentence: “In 1972 Raymond became involved with the Right to Life movement and was an active volunteer for twenty years.”
My younger brother was killed in an automobile accident at age 16 while enroute to school. He was carrying a New Testament in his shirt pocket. I do not think that either my brother or Andrew Moore died in vain.
I was actually kneeling down praying rosary outside an Family Reduction Facility named Planned Parenthood when a pro-abort psycho (or is that redundant) intentionally swerved at me.
Eternal rest grant unto Andrew oh Lord. And may Your perpetual life shine upon him.
If I could I would be there (will be in spirit) at the Mass of Burial for Andrew and consider it a great honor to join with the choir in singing the In Paradisium: “May the angels lead you into paradise: may the martyrs receive you at your coming, and lead you into the hold city, Jerusalem. May the choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have everlasting rest.”
Rest in peace, my friend.
Honestly, I’d like to be remembered mainly for the effect my life had on my friends and family and all that sentimental stuff. Of course, I’m not a public figure of any sort, so I doubt my pro-life views would be worth mentioning in my obituary.