Pro-life billboards promote alternatives

Like an Oklahoma prairie fire on a windy day, the idea of pro-life billboards started and spread with a simple message.

From Norman to Tulsa, the simple message of “Choose Life” has spread through billboards, yard signs, bus stops benches and websites.

“People seem to always be looking for signs, God put it on (my) heart that we need to have a presence and a positive force out there,” said Vic Munding, life director for the Oklahoma Knights of Columbus.

Acting in faith, Munding and his late wife put up the money for the first “Choose Life”  billboard. Munding’s wife passed away unexpectedly two days before Christmas in 2018 and never got to see the successful billboard campaign come to fruition.

In less than four years, the program has grown far beyond the dreams of the Mundings. Leading the battle against abortion are Ron Larchick and John Romero, co-chairman of the Faith in Action Life Committee of the Knights of Columbus Council #12108 at Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Norman. 

“There are 24 billboards shining the message of hope throughout Oklahoma, with plans to expand nationally,” Romero said. “Our billboards will display where mothers can get all the help available to them in their area from free ultrasounds and supplies to counseling and housing.”

Romero further explained, “We use Mary to symbolize a pregnant mother with child. She understands the concerns, the uncertainty, the loneliness, the lack of financial certainty, especially during this pandemic. If anyone can sympathize with pregnant women, it would be the Blessed Mother.”   

In 2018, with Munding devastated by the death of his wife, Ron Larchick, picked up the effort and ran with it. It was mainly through his efforts that the program has grown to cover central Oklahoma. He also started the yard sign program. 

“Besides just the billboards and yards signs, what is so exciting is some of the areas we have expanded into,” Larchick said. “As other denominations join our fight against abortion, our school children are raising funds to buy an ultrasound machine to provide free ultrasounds (cost is $17,500), pre-natal and post-natal centers, supplies and counseling for mothers. The most important thing is to help expectant mothers know there are alternatives to abortion, and they can choose life.” 

Larchick and his wife, Linda, adopted a son 50 years ago. Linda Larchick is quoted on a billboard, “I thank God that my son’s biological mother chose life, and I thank God for her and for our beautiful child God gave in a special act of love.”

Deacon Joe Vandervort, coordinator of Respect Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said it is important to convert the heart of young people to choose life from birth to natural death. 

“Their heart is not in love with God who loved them enough to give them life,” he said.

For more information on the “Choose Life” sign program, contact Ron Larchick at [email protected], (405) 819-9153.

Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.