Bishop Paul S. Loverde was installed as the third bishop of Arlington in March, 1999. Nine days later, on Holy Saturday, Bishop Loverde began leading us in praying the Rosary outside local abortion facilities.

From the beginning of his time as our diocesan shepherd, Bishop Loverde has preached a boldly pro-life message through his actions, prayers, and teachings. Bishop Loverde began serving the Virginia State Council as State Chaplain in 2008, again regularly calling Virginia Knights of Columbus to stand up for life. Regular Respect Life Masses in parishes around the Diocese, followed by peaceful prayer outside local abortion facilities, have continued throughout Bishop Loverde’s time as our shepherd and his time as our State Chaplain. For his continued leadership on the pro-life issue and for his guidance on bringing the Pro-Life ACE Wings program to the Virginia State Council, Bishop Loverde is presented the inaugural Pro-Life Gold ACE Wings Award.

Ms. Jeanne F. Mancini was elected to the board of directors of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund in 2012. A few months later in the fall of 2012, following the sudden and
unexpected June 24 death of Nellie Gray, founder of the March for Life, Jeanne was appointed president with the immediate mission to host the January 2013 March for Life.

Over the next seven years, Jeanne’s leadership has grown the March for Life from a one-day per year event to a year-round force for life in Washington, DC.

In addition to planning and hosting the largest annual civil rights peaceful protest each January, Jeanne brings the pro-life message to Congress, to public media, and to thousands each year through her speaking engagements and writings. Jeanne has made it her personal mission and that of the March for Life to promote the beauty and dignity of every human life by working to end abortion—uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square.

Before coming to the March for Life, Jeanne worked with the Family Research Council (FRC),
where she focused on issues related to the inherent dignity of the human person, including abortion, women’s health, and end-of-life issues. For her continued leadership to unite, educate, and mobilize pro-life people in the public square and inspire the pro-life activity of the Virginia State Council Knights of Columbus, Jeanne F. Mancini is presented the Pro-Life Gold ACE Wings Award.

Thom Harrington volunteered to marshal the March for Life in January 1996 and has participated each year since.  In 2010 Thom was asked to lead the Virginia Knights of Columbus in marshaling the national March for Life.  This meant soliciting volunteers from the Virginia Knights and briefing marshals on duties, safety, and procedures for the March for Life.  

In March 2013, Thom was invited to join the Board of Directors of the March for Life Education & Defense Fund.  Thom also took on the Herculean effort of managing marshals and security at a time when these components became the most important elements in coordinating the March for Life.  His duties included negotiating with multiple Federal and District of Columbia agencies on all matters regarding permits, march route, and safety.  

Beginning in January, 2017, and for the next four national Marches for Life, the planning and execution became a “special event of national significance” with the US Secret Service involved in security planning for the March for Life rally.  Thom Harrington was the primary point of contact throughout the week of each March, coordinating multiple meetings, site visits, and changes required to ensure a safe March for Life event.

April, 2019 was the inaugural Virginia March for Life.  Thom Harrington led Virginia Knights as marshals for this important state-level pro-life event.  He also worked with the March for Life team and local partner organizations to plan permitting, march route, and bus parking in Virginia as the State March for Life program took off.

Cathy has supported these efforts.  Every marshal meets Cathy as they sign in and receive their marshal jacket and ballcap.  Both in Washington, DC and State Capitols, Cathy is helping Thom help make the March for Life succeed.

For their continued leadership and tireless work, Thom and Cathy Harrington are presented the Pro-Life Gold ACE Wings Award.

David Bereit entered the pro-life movement in 1998, when Planned Parenthood announced plans to build an abortion facility in his Texas hometown. He volunteered, joined the board, and soon became Executive Director of the Coalition for Life, rallying dozens of churches and thousands of neighbors to pray, hold peaceful vigils, offer sidewalk counseling, and cut off taxpayer funding of the abortion chain.

In 2004, David created and led the first 40 Days for Life campaign, held outside the Planned Parenthood facility in College Station, Texas. Local abortions fell 28 percent.

As the campaign spread to other cities, he established 40 Days for Life as an independent organization and led it for its first decade as CEO. During his tenure, he recruited and trained 2,500 local leaders and mobilized 750,000 volunteers in 675 cities across all 50 states and dozens of nations, saving 14,000 lives, helping 143 workers leave the abortion industry, and closing 96 abortion facilities. He stepped down in 2016 to expand his pro-life and culture-shaping work, and he continues to pray for and support the ministry.

David has also served as National Director of Stop Planned Parenthood (STOPP) International and Executive Director of American Life League. Closer to home, he helped the March for Life with strategic planning as it grew from a single annual event into a year-round force for life in Washington and across state capitols. 

David lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with Margaret, his wife and best friend. After 28 years of attending Mass alongside her, he entered OCIA and was received into the Catholic Church at the 2018 Easter Vigil. He answered the invitation to become a Knight of Columbus in 2021. 

For his willingness to innovate, to step forward into the unknown, and faithfully follow where discernment leads in the cause of life, David Bereit is presented the Pro-Life Gold ACE Wings Award.