Students march for life

Published February 10, 2017

Three Benedictine College students, all Arkansas natives, attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 26. Jackie Valderas, a member of St. Vincent de Paul in Rogers, attended the National March for Life for the second time. Siblings Nicole and Josh Salman, members of St. James Church in Searcy, were first-time attendees. The Arkansans made the 24-hour bus ride along with 270 of their classmates as part of Benedictine’s “Ravens Respect Life” organization on campus. Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., has made the journey to Washington D.C. for the past 32 years to participate in the march.

Josh, a past member of the diocesan Youth Advisory Council, said it was a blessing to attend the March for Life.

“The pro-life movement is stronger than ever,” he said. “From my friends on social media, I was able to see a great turnout for the Arkansas March for Life this year. I was then able to experience firsthand the very inspiring March for Life in D.C. and Rally for Life. In all honesty, it did not feel like we were protesting — it felt like a big celebration of life.”

Nicole played the snare drum with the Benedictine College Drum Corps during the march.

“It was really fun to be in that type of environment playing with the drum corps,” she said.