Next week is the March for Life Week in Washington, D.C. A number of conferences, events, and rallies surround the annual March for Life, marking the Supreme Court’s grave Roe v. Wade decision in January 1973. The March will happen this year on Friday, January 19.

This morning, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan confirmed his attendance at the March. He’ll be addressing the official rally before marchers — who tend to consist heavily of student groups and families, and, of course, activists from throughout the country — head up toward the Supreme Court. That’s no small thing, for Ryan to use the distinction of the office to say this is important, the Court got this wrong, and to thank all of those who tell the truth about the dignity of innocent human life.

By addressing the March, he also brings added media coverage.

The March is infamously under-covered and unnoticed by the media and, well, the world, it seems. As someone who has attended for longer than I can remember now (and I am far from alone; there are plenty of people who have been going their entire lives at this point, which I cannot claim), I always feel bad for the people missing out. There is such joy at the annual gathering. There is such encouragement. To see so many young people who seem to understand: that abortion is wrong, that it is heartbreaking, that a nation as generous as ours should never leave women alone to feel as if abortion has to be their “choice.”

This is from the March for Life release going out this morning:

“It is an honor to have Speaker of the House Paul Ryan address the 45th annual March for Life. Speaker Ryan has been an unwavering champion for the pro-life cause since taking office, and continues to utilize his post to promote the inherent dignity of the human person at all stages of life,” said Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life. “We are grateful for the significant strides Congress made in the last year to protect and defend the most innocent among us, and are confident that 2018 will see even more pro-life progress with Speaker Ryan leading the charge.”

All are welcome, by the way, at the March for Life, so there’s still time to decide to join us. I expect there will be some other announcements to come about speakers. But it’s obviously not always a given that the Speaker of the House attends or makes a formal address. (In his first year as speaker, Ryan made an unannounced stop in front of the Supreme Court to support the cause.) Whatever your politics, it’s a good thing to do with the power of the office — in terms of presence and history on such an urgent and fundamental human-rights issue. And to bring attention at the same time to an event that radiates such hope. Capitol Hill is full of stories and testimonies and beautiful faces. The theme this year is “Love Saves Lives,” and I suspect you’ll see some of that love on display, as I do every year. Be inspired . . . and go home from there (or from catching some of it on TV (EWTN/C-SPAN) or social media; I tend to live tweet until my phone freezes at @KathrynLopez) to look around and see what and who you can support close to home, especially people making a difference on this front such as maternity homes, crisis-pregnancy centers, and the Sisters of Life.

And if you’ll be at the March for Life and associated events, let me know at [email protected]. I’m always amazed by how far folks travel – from Florida and Texas and North Dakota and Louisiana. I’ll be at the Catholic University of America’s pep rally on Tuesday and at the March for Life expo on Thursday (also hosting a small private lunch for the National Review Institute, bringing some leaders together), abd the Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, as well as the actual March and the Evangelicals for Life conference on Friday. (And, some things, I’m sure, that I have forgotten!) Hope to see you there somewhere!

And in the midst of everything else going on in the world, consider thanking Paul Ryan for addressing the March. We tend only to complain about things, but gratitude is good.