HOULTON, Maine — A Houlton woman is hoping the power of prayer will seek an end to abortions in the greater Houlton area.
Peggy Robinson has been seated at Houlton’s Pierce Park, near the town’s iconic “Boy and the Boot” fountain statue as part of the “40 Days of Life” prayer vigil. The cause is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of businesses that perform abortions.
Robinson has been at Pierce Park every Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. since the campaign began Sept. 23, sitting through a wide array of weather conditions, from beautiful fall days to chilly mornings with rain and snow showers.
“Our campaign here is part of a worldwide cause,” Robinson said. “When it is a matter of life and death, what are you going to do, say it’s too cold or you’re too tired? It grips my heart too much not to do it.”
The Houlton event is one of 588 campaigns taking place around the globe. Since the first coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign took place in 2007, the group has reached more than 1,000 cities in 63 countries, according to its website.
Scheduled for Sept. 23 through Nov. 1, the pro-life campaign seeks to prevent abortions through peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities, community outreach, prayer and fasting. The Houlton event is stationed near Houlton’s Maine Family Planning facility located at 91 Military St.
Claire Desrosiers and Libby Morrison have also been instrumental in covering shifts over the weekend, Robinson added.
Robinson acknowledged that the topic can be controversial, but for the most part the greater Houlton community has been receptive.
“The Houlton community has been so fabulous,” Robinson said. “The response of people driving by has been about 98 percent positive. People stop and bring us coffee and hot chocolate and doughnuts just about every morning. It’s been amazing.”
