Saturday night in Spring Grove, a banquet was held to raise money to buy an ultrasound machine for 1st Way Pregnancy Support Services.

In the fight against abortion, ultrasound images of unborn babies have been found to be the most persuasive tool.

A speaker pointed out that 80-85% of mothers decide to carry their babies to term after seeing its ultrasound image.

Even more astounding is the claim that 99% of men will encourage their mates to have their baby after seeing such an image.

And the machine’s importance was emphasized on the front page of the Chicago Tribune today.

In the Elgin area, an ultrasound machine has been installed in a bus by now-retired Dr. Ronald Winters.

A component of Elgin’s Life Center, the bus is parked, with permission, near Larkin High School at the Evangelical Covenant Church and J.B.’s Pub 7 Pietro’s Pasta.

Now the city has enacted a zoning ordinance which prohibits the weekly efforts.

The Pro-life organization has sued in Federal Court, claiming violation of of First Amendment free speech and religious rights.

Councilwoman Anna Moeller seems to be most disturbed with the anti-abortion efforts.

But back to Spring Grove.

The “full cost” of the Samsung machine is $75,000 that First Way wants to put in its office in Johnsburg near and south of Angelo’s Grocery.

This is an openly Christian outreach organization.

As originator and Executive Director Connie Freund said, “I couldn’t have done this without God, without Jesus in my life.”

There are 67 people who volunteer their time in the organization that was founded in 1973, the year Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton (the “health of the mother,” very loosely defined, case) was handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Speaker for the evening was Jill Stanek.

Stanek is the nurse who blew the whistle on Christ Hospital’s practice of allowing unsuccessfully aborted babies to die without offering medical care.  The instance that set her on her over decade-long mission was one in which a baby was left to die in a janitor’s closet.  She held the tiny infant for the forty-five minutes it took to die.

Part of her presentation was an interview with Bill O’Reilly that twice left O’Reilly speechless.  (It was one of five interviews used that year in the end-of-year wrap-up of the show.)

At the end of the interview, O’Reilly tells the names of the people who voted against the Federal statute that required hospitals to provide medical care.

Included in the short, under ten in number list was Jesse Jackson, Jr.

“I haven’t watched that video since Jesse Jackson was indicted,” Stanek observed.

“All I can say is ‘What goes around comes around.'”

Stanek described abortion as “the most despicable moral atrocity of our generation.”

She lamented the one billion abortions, “one-seventh of the world’s population,” adding, “No one who waits for God will ever be put to shame.”

And although Stanek cautioned those present at The Shores of Turtle Creek banquet hall not to depend on politicians, she did observe, “While the other side continues to abort their babies, [ours]continue to be born.”

She suggested Pro-Lifers could “win the war by attrition.”

Making part of the pitch for donations at the event, whose entire cost had already been covered by sponsors, Stanek pointed out, “We are the hands and feet…and pocketbooks” of Jesus.

She urged people attending not to leave thinking, “I missed my chance.”

The dinner was underwritten by

• Pat Griffin
• Luster Leaf Products
• Right to Life McHenry County Education Fund
• Bert and Joan Schommer
• Sports Decals, Inc.
• TW Machine Service – Tom Wiznerowicz

Table sponsors included

• David F. Bengston
• Berger Excavating
• Len and JoAnn Charlan
• Merle and Connie Freund
• ITW Foundation – Rich and Sue Podloski
• James and Kathleen Morrow
• Irene Napier
• Patriots United – Joe Edwards
• Patriots United – Brian Kelly
• Rabine Group Foundation – Gary and Cheryl Rabine
• Greg Steil
• Russell R. Steil
• In hone of Alice and Jerry Sullivan
• Joahn Vickery

$41,000 was raised.