Schools cancel trips to D.C. ahead of snow storms

Students from Carroll and Alter high schools were scheduled to leave Thursday morning.

About 100 local students from Carroll and Alter high schools were scheduled to leave Thursday morning for the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., but the trip was canceled due to the forecasted snow storms on the East Coast.

Carroll teacher Dennis Brun said the forecast — which calls for at least a foot of snow in that area — forced the school to cancel the trip and instead plan alternative pro-life events next week.

The group was set to leave at 8 a.m. Thursday.

“I was very excited to stand up for the rights of all humans in all stages of life,” said Carroll junior Maeve Curliss. “When I found out this morning, I was at swim practice and there were four of us there. We were all very disappointed, but our prayers are with the people who will be attending.”

Students from Chaminade Julienne in Dayton are already in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life rally. They left Wednesday, and weather permitting will return Sunday night, said spokeswoman Kary Ellen Berger.

Students from local Alter High School also had to cancel their trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the march, said Amy Miller, school spokeswoman.

“Although they won’t be in D.C., the students felt that it was fitting and necessary to have their own March right here at Alter, and to join in prayer with many others throughout the country who will be praying and witnessing on this day,” Miller said in an email.

Miller said that about 50 students from Alter will march from the school chapel to the local abortion clinic on Stroop Road while praying the Rosary. Miller said students from Carroll High School and other local Catholic high schools have been invited.

Brun said the concern wasn’t just what is being forecasted in Washington, D.C. Traveling through the mountains on the way back also was a concern, he said.

An alternative route would have taken three hours or more.

“I did talk to some people in Washington, D.C., and there was concern of shutting down the metro system,” Brun said. “We’d be stuck in a hotel for two to three days. With 50 miles per hour winds, there’s the possibility of power outages. It wasn’t a good scene anyway you look at it.”

Brun said the hotel will apply the money to Carroll’s trip next year, the bus company is giving some of the money back and the students will at least get a partial refund.

Carroll did a number of fundraisers — car washes, pie sales — to help students afford to go on the trip.

“A lot of kids, teachers, parents and the community put in a lot of effort to make this trip happen, and it didn’t happen,” Curliss said. “I believe our teacher did what was best for our safety, but I wish it would have worked out differently.”

Brun said the school is collecting baby items, such as diapers, wipes and onesies, and raising money for the Elizabeth’s New Life Center and to support crisis pregnancy centers.

The anticipated winter storms also caused the University of Dayton’s Flyers for Life group to cancel its annual bus trip to Washington, D.C., for the March of Life.

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