Franklin County holds two Prayer for Peace ceremonies
This year ceremonies, which are a program of the state Garden Club observed locally each year, took place in Red Bay and Russellville.
Red Bay’s ceremony was held Dec. 3 in conjunction with their recognition of their memory tree. At 4:30 p.m. people started gathering at the gazebo in Bay Tree Park in downtown Russellville to hear the traditional Prayer for Peace poem, listen to Christmas carols and learn the history of the Every Light a Prayer for Peace ceremony.
“We thought it would be appropriate to kick off the Christmas season with the lighting of the tree and this ceremony,” said Rosalyn Fabianke, a member of the garden club.
She explained that the Garden Club’s Memory Tree is something members have been doing for many years. People are invited to hang the name of a lost loved one on the tree in their memory.
“Every light on this tree represents a person in peace. Their radiance will glow throughout the season, and they will be remembered in our hearts,” Fabianke said.
Russellville’s ceremony was held on the Franklin County Courthouse steps Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m., organized by the Cultura Garden Club.
The Russellville High School Ensemble and Russellville Middle School Choir performed “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” and Kim Stanley Clonts sang the “Star Spangled Banner.” Emily Rush led the choir and ensemble.
Sam and Reed Hamilton led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the RHS JROTC presented the colors. Jeremy Willis, RHS band director, performed taps.
Laken Brown, Elisabeth Lerch, Alli Franklin and Allison Woods of the RHS Drama Team read the “Light a Candle” poem.
Priest Vincent Bresowar from the Good Shephard Catholic Church gave a message and a prayer. He spoke about finding peace in God, which echoes the line of the poem that calls God a “mighty rock in a shaken and chaotic world.”
