Church bells around the town of Clinton, Iowa, were rung in remembrance of the start of the War in Iraq on Wednesday.

More videos are below the fold.Over 50 people gathered to pray, sing and listen at a service marking five years since the start of the U.S. invasion in Iraq. Sister Janice Cebula opened the prayer vigil at the Clinton County Courthouse.

She spoke with the Iowa Independent after the event.

Cebula is the president of the Sisters of St. Francis in Clinton.

Ashford University psychology professor John Ivens read his vision of “What Peace Looks Like.” The full text was printed in the Clinton Times-Herald newspaper. He was preaching to the choir of peace proponents, save one person: Craig Johnson, who was at the event to support the war.

He carried a sign that read: “Except for Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism, and Communism, War Never Solved Anything.”

Judy Wick brought an Italian peace flag to the event. Her daughter carried the flag in Rome, Italy, at protests before the start of the war.

Wick said she carried the flag for both of her daughters. Her youngest daughter, Emily Wick, recently served in Iraq at Air Force bases in Baghdad and Kirkuk with the USAF.

Bilingual Maria Ramirez recited the Prayer of St. Francis in Spanish before she joined the crowd for the English translation.

And Mohammed Asaadi of the Clinton Islamic Society translated Muslim prayers for peace.

The closing prayer was led by Rev. Anthony Herald, Pastor of Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Parish.

More information about the Sisters of St. Francis can be found at: http://www.clintonfr…