If you drove through Harrisburg, heading west toward the state Capitol building, you couldn’t miss Ed Snell’s house.
It was the abode with a sign out front protesting abortion and the politicians who supported it.
Protest day was every day for Ed. While abortion remains a hidden tragedy much of the time, the military veteran was determined to showcase the horror of little lives lost in abortion facilities.
REACH PRO-LIFE PEOPLE WORLDWIDE! Advertise with LifeNews to reach hundreds of thousands of pro-life readers every week. Contact us today.
Bespectacled and bearded, Ed was slight of build but big on conviction. He faithfully stood vigil outside the Hillcrest abortion facility, offering compassionate alternatives to pregnant women in dire circumstances.
Ed was so effective, in fact, that Hillcrest erected a seven-foot fence to block conversations between him and people entering the abortion center. That did not deter Ed, who responded by placing a platform on the roof of his car.
On a December day in 2007, an angry visitor lunged at Ed, knocking him unconscious. The assault resulted in the then 69-year-old victim suffering bleeding in his brain, broken vertebrae, and broken ribs. He could have died.
Ed was undaunted. Once he recovered, he continued his advocacy against the evil of abortion and challenged those who perpetuated brutality against the innocent.
A few days ago, I was passing by Ed’s house and noticed no abortion signs in his front yard. I knew something was up.
What I did not know was that Ed was preparing to meet his Maker and the Maker of all those children he tried to save.
Drive past Ed’s house now, and you will see a statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus. So a sign of his faith remains behind.
I’d like to think that when Ed arrived at the pearly gates, a chorus of babies greeted him, welcoming him to paradise.
Ed suffered so much in this life for standing up for defenseless children. May he be abundantly rewarded in the next life, where no more mothers cry and no more babies die.
LifeNews.com Note: Maria Gallagher is the Legislative Director and Political Action Committee Director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and she has written and reported for various broadcast and print media outlets, including National Public Radio, CBS Radio, and AP Radio.
