The kelly green scarves worn by the pro-life delegation of the Archdiocese of New York were a colorful contrast to the cloudy sky that saturated the National Mall during the 39th annual March for Life commemorated Jan. 23 in the nation’s capital.

The signature scarves were not solely a New York fashion statement.

“We chose the kelly green scarves in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of New York, as a way for all the New Yorkers to be able to identify one another at the march since they drive down on different buses from various starting points all over the Archdiocese,” said Veronica Mary Sullivan, S.V., director of the archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office, which coordinated the New York contingent.

The scarves’ durable knit fabric also helped to shield the pilgrims from the elements as they faithfully marched on behalf of the unborn in inclement weather conditions that included temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s and rainfall. Each attendee was asked to donate $2 to curtail the cost of the scarves, which were purchased for the march.

Although there is no official tally of the total number of pro-life pilgrims who sojourned from the archdiocese to the nation’s capital to peacefully protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across the country, Sister Veronica Mary estimated more than 3,000 represented the archdiocese’s 10 counties.

Some pilgrims, en route to right-to-life vigils, activities and demonstrations, departed for Washington the Friday before the Monday march to avoid driving in snow which accumulated in New York by Saturday morning.

The morning of the march, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan greeted a contingent of Catholics from New York as he recessed from the 7:30 a.m. Votive Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life before a standing-room-only crowd that packed the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. The cardinal-designate had served as principal celebrant and homilist.

Among a number of New Yorkers standing in a side aisle that cheerfully let the cardinal-designate know they were there was Father Steven Markantonis, a parochial vicar of St. Philip Neri parish in the Bronx. “It’s a great privilege to be here─this is indeed the most important thing we can do, to pray for an end to abortion and all assaults against human life,” Father Markantonis told CNY afterward.

Father Markantonis, 27, said he was deeply moved by what “we witnessed in this basilica…young people on fire with the faith.”

“I’m happy to be here with our parish,” Father Markantonis said. “So important it is to remind our young people of the dignity and sanctity of human life in this day and age. We’re all united here in prayer, under the intercession of our Blessed Mother.”

He planned to share with those from St. Philip Neri not present in Washington a reminder of “how alive the Church is” and that “the Church is interested in making a difference in our culture and our world today.”

The priest also pledged to continue to promote life through prayer and to verbally “remind our Catholics to vote with a Catholic conscience, a well-formed conscience. It’s one of the most important things we can do to put the right people in the right positions of government.”

Luis Lugo, 28, the youth director at Our Lady of Refuge parish in the Bronx, said the Mass preceding the March for Life reiterated “how valuable life is.”

When the opportunity for a life in the womb is ended through abortion, “we’re taking away a light that can be called to serve Christ and to be an example for others,” Lugo said.

It is essential, he said, to educate youth who did not plan to become a mother or father at a young age about the alternatives to abortion. “They can have an opportunity to be helped and supported by the Church in their moment of struggle, whatever problem it is, and to know there is a solution out there to give a chance for that child to be born,” he said.