[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 207 (Friday, December 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES M. TALENT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 22, 1995

  Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in a belated tribute to a great 
victory in the pro-life movement. While the pro-life movement always 
has proclaimed the sanctity of human life, pro-life supporters and 
others touched by abortions have been without a place where they can 
gather to mourn those lost to abortion or to reconcile the pain of that 
tragic decision. But that changed in 1993 when a pro-life group in 
Chattanooga, TN, peacefully brought about the closing of the city's 
only abortion clinic. This is an incredible story, which I want to 
bring to the attention of my colleagues in the House.
  In April 1993, the Pro-life Majority Coalition of Chattanooga 
[ProMaCC] learned of the pending sale of a building that for 18 years 
housed the Chattanooga Women's Clinic. The abortionist who was leasing 
the building agreed to purchase the property from the bankrupt landlord 
for $254,000. Within 7 days, ProMaCC raised over $300,000 from local 
pro-life supporters who wanted the facility closed. When the building 
was auctioned in bankruptcy court, ProMaCC outbid the abortionist and 
purchased the building for $294,000. Faced with the loss of this 
facility, the owner of the abortion clinic sold all assets and 
dissolved the corporation.
  But the story doesn't end here. After the building was acquired, the 
question arose of what to do with it. ProMaCC formed a new organization 
called the Imago Deli--Latin for Image of God--Foundation to decide the 
future of the 8,600 square foot building. The foundation sold part of 
the former clinic to AAA Women's Services, a pregnancy center which 
provides counseling, abstinence training, and infant care instruction 
and which distributes food, clothing, and other needs for babies.
  The remainder of the building will be dedicated as a memorial to the 
victims of abortion--the National Memorial for the Unborn. Most of the 
existing building structure will be torn down. The abortion procedure 
room and waiting area, however, will remain standing to house the 
central feature of the memorial, the Wall of Names. The wall, which is 
modeled after the Vietnam War Memorial, will hold name plaques, each 
one dedicated to the memory of an aborted child by those who mourn the 
loss. A black wrought iron fence will be constructed over the 
building's footings to mark the perimeter of the former clinic. 
Connecting the fence to the Wall of Names is a stone path which winds 
past meditative gardens and a pool of tears. With both the AAA Women's 
Service and the National Memorial for the Unborn, an effigy of despair 
has been transformed, in a real way, into a monument of hope which 
encourages, supports, and nurtures life, both physically and 
spiritually.
  Abortion is an emotional issue which has deeply divided our Republic 
since the Supreme Court handed down the Roe versus Wade decision. But I 
hope that everyone will join me in applauding the efforts of the Imago 
Dei Foundation to provide a memorial for the unborn where the healing 
of millions of Americans touched by the scar of abortion may begin.
  Besides healing individuals, the National Memorial for the Unborn 
begins the process of healing a nation. The memorial brings us one step 
closer to the day when we have mercy for all and malice toward none. 
Brochures at the memorial read:

       On the site where over 35,000 babies were aborted, the 
     National Memorial for the Unborn is a powerful witness to 
     God's redemption and healing for all the victims of abortion 
     and for our Nation.

  Indeed it is, Mr. Speaker.
  The National Memorial to the Unborn was dedicated on January 23, 
1994, and will be open to the public in January 1996. I commend 
everyone involved in this project, and I look forward to the day when 
we as a nation will have a place to mourn individually and corporately 
the loss of children by abortion.
  The following Members of Congress join me in these remarks: 
Representative Zach Wamp, Representative Charles Canady, Representative 
Todd Tiahrt, Representative Bob Inglis, Representative Ron Lewis, 
Representative Steve Largent, Representative William Lipinski, 
Representative Christopher Smith, Representative Bill Emerson, 
Representative Dave Weldon, Representative Tim Hutchison, 
Representative Joe Barton, Representative Nick Rahall, Representative 
James Barcia, Representative Mel Hancock, Representative Tom Coburn, 
Representative Wes Cooley.

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