Dozens of candles flickered with flames of hope in Thursday’s Every Light a Prayer for Peace ceremony Thursday in front of the Franklin County Courthouse.

The observance, hosted annually by the Cultura Garden Club of Russellville, featured a number of special guests and speakers, including club President Debbie Beason with the welcome, club historian Doris Woodruff with the invocation, RHS JROTC presenting the colors, “Star Spangled Banner” by Kim Clonts, Pledge of Allegiance led by Tal, Reed and Sam Hamilton, a presentation of the history of the observance by club Secretary Cheri McCain, introduction of entertainment by Chairperson Susie Malone, musical performances by the RHS and RMS choruses, introduction of guest speaker by first vice president Hillary Hall, reading of the “Light a Candle” poem by fire marshal Justin Green and taps by RHS band director Jeremy Willis. The special guest speaker bringing the peace message was Bobby Brown, RPD police chaplain and minister of Polk Street church of Christ.

“We can’t have peace in this great country we live in unless we have God,” Brown declared. “When there was no peace in the world, God sent his Son into the world so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I believe America is going to prosper and go forward, and America is going to be great, but it’s never going to be great until we put God back in it.”