20th annual Memorial for the Unborn

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - When I was 18 years old, I went and made the choice," said Kris Meidinger, now the Regional Coordinator for Silence No More, a group for women who have had abortions.

Kris Meidinger said that choice unknowingly led her on a life of drug and alcohol abuse.

"There was a lot of self-esteem issues, and I didn't know what it was for for a long time," Meidinger said.

Even though that was over 30 ago, she comes to the Memorial Service for the Unborn as a part of her ongoing healing process.

"There not condemning us," Meidinger said. "They're loving us, and that's huge because abortion is something normally you don't talk about, and you're afraid of what people are going to think of you and to have this community open their arms is very healing."

Sunday afternoon marked the 20th annual Memorial Service for the Unborn held at Catholic Cemetery in East Fort Wayne hosted by the Allen County Right to Life.

"We love the babies," said Cathie Humbarger, the Executive Director of the Allen County Right to Life. "We want to save all the babies we can, but we're here for the mothers as well."

The program consisted of prayers, speakers, and a dedication to the more than 300 unborn babies this year.

"There's hope and healing for any mother who's made an abortion decision, and we're here to help the mothers as well as defend the children," Humbarger said. 

Humbarger said this is one event, where people are celebrating the lives of the unborn, that they don't receive any opposition.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana said in an e-mailed statement that their "nonprofit does more than any other organization in the state to reduce the incidence of abortion...we believe that everyone should have choices and the ability to express their opinions."