Three hundred supporters of VSHL gathered at the Richmond Omni Hotel Friday night, October 4, for a reception and dinner in honor of VSHL’s 35^th anniversary. Legislators, pro-life leaders and supporters recognized the significant contributions VSHL and its founders made in promoting dignity for all human life. In VSHL, they created the first statewide pro-life organization in the nation — in 1967, six years before the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion until the day of birth.

Among those attending was US Senator George Allen who greeted the crowd briefly and told them that signing the parental notification law was “one of the happiest days I had as Governor.” Other notable attendees from the political realm were current Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, former Governor Jim Gilmore, former Lt. Governor John Hager, US Congressman Eric Cantor, Virginia State Senators Bill Bolling, Chuck Colgan, Steve Martin (who also sang the National Anthem), Steve Newman, Nick Rerras and Frank Ruff, former Senator Eva Scott, the new Speaker of the House Delegate Bill Howell, and Delegates Mark Cole, Bill Janis and Brad Marrs.

The evening featured Hollywood celebrity Ben Stein, a lawyer, professor and entertainer, who has appeared in movies and television programs including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Wonder Years and as host of Win Ben Stein’s Money. Although starting off on a humorous note, Mr. Stein soon switched to his primary topic of the evening: abortion. In explaining why he was against it, he looked at abortion from the vantagepoint of the unborn baby and considered the baby’s pain in being put to death. He then noted that abortion “involves murders by those most entrusted with human lives,” namely doctors, and so is a “crime of staggering magnitude.” He asked, “Why is a murderer allowed to be a murderer just because he has an M.D. after his name?” He called abortion a “fundamental moral evil, by far the worst that’s ever happened to us in this country.”

The crowd was initially welcomed by VSHL President Brenda Fastabend who introduced the VSHL Board members. The Most Reverend Walter Sullivan, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, gave the invocation before dinner.

The Gala Honorary Committee featured many other Virginia leaders who were not able to be in attendance, including the Director of the Office of Personnel Management Kay Coles James, former Representative Tom Bliley, Representatives Jo Ann Davis, Randy Forbes, Virgil Goode and Bob Goodlatte, former Attorney General Mark Earley, former State Senator Joe Gartlan, and Delegate Bob McDonnell.

Key National Right to Life leaders came to recognize VSHL as the first statewide pro-life organization in the country. NRLC President Wanda Franz and nine other NRLC staff members were present, including Legislative Director Douglas Johnson, Executive Director David O’Steen, Associate Executive Director Darla St. Martin, and of course, the NRLC Board Chairman, Virginia’s own Geline Williams. From the podium, Sen. George Allen called Mrs. Williams “the First Lady of VSHL,” describing her most accurately as the “embodiment of poise, grace and leadership.”

As the evening drew to a close, the Master of Ceremonies, VSHL Treasurer Ruble Hord, made a strong appeal to the guests for financial help in meeting the goal of matching the $100,000 anniversary grant. More than half of the matching grant is still available (see matching grant article).

Published in VSHL Lifesaver, October 2002