Jul 28, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Three groups of over 40 college students are walking their way across the United States sharing their unmistakable message--all human life is sacred and should be protected.
The students, from around the country and donning t-shirts emblazoned with the huge words: Pro Life, are set to begin the final leg of their cross-country journey which will take them into the nations capital.
Beginning from three different points--Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles--the students have hit the country on foot, speaking to churches and youth groups while traveling through a combined 31 states totaling some 9500 miles.
From Washington, the students will travel to Cologne, Germany to participate in this year’s World Youth Day celebration.
Crossroads, a Maryland-based group, has been leading the walks across the U.S. for the past 11 years in response to Pope John Paul II’s call to build a culture of life. Along the way, the groups speak with different parish groups to encourage pro-life work, and often pray in front of local abortion clinics.
Matthew Maes, of Atlanta, who is helping to lead the Seattle to DC group said that, "We are not trying to force our values down anyone's throat, it's quite the contrary, we have a very simple message about the sanctity of all human life. We have listened patiently to the other side. Now it is our turn to be heard."
“Life issues”, he added, “are considered by many to be taboo, but we have found that most people, at the very least, respect the moral courage it takes to stand up for what you believe in rather than the indifference that tends to plague society today,"
Crossroads’ national office boasted that its participants were “spirited, eloquent, dynamic, and committed to their message of upholding the sanctity and dignity of all human life, presenting a strong contrast to the apathy of many in their generation and a culture that often disregards the value of life.”
It is estimated that the walker’s message will be heard by some 250,000 people in church talks alone this summer.
More information on Crossroads and an on-line journal from the participants can be found at: www.crossroadswalk.org