I join many others in our community in welcoming the opening of First Choice Clinic-West here in Bismarck.

This is the third such clinic in North Dakota, offering faith-based education and health services for expectant mothers at no charge. One of the clinic’s big services will be ultrasound imaging, giving an expectant mother a look at the life in her womb.

The saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Yet, some pictures are worth far more. Some are worth a life.

A picture into the womb through ultrasound technology often saves the life of an unborn baby — 90 percent of women considering an abortion choose to have their baby after seeing an ultrasound image.

These women don’t just make a choice, they make an informed choice.

The Knights of Columbus nationwide sponsor an Ultrasound Initiative to help centers such as First Choice Clinic-West purchase an ultrasound machine. The national Knights of Columbus will pay for half of the $34,000 cost of ultrasound equipment if the local councils can raise the other half.

Knights of Columbus councils in our area are leading an effort to raise funds for the ultrasound purchase for First Choice Clinic-West.