On Friday afternoon, about 50 people gathered on the front lawn of the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church to mark the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Many carried Ukrainian flags or dressed in bright blue and yellow to match the flag’s colors. Chaplain Barbara Harlow opened the vigil with these words: “We gather in remembrance, in reverence, and in hope to an end of the fighting in Ukraine.”
The Handbells of Peterborough played the Ukrainian national anthem, “Shche ne vmerlaUkrainy,” translated as “Ukraine’s Glory Has Not Yet Died, Nor Her Freedom.” Following the bell rendition, the high steeple bell tolled for 10 minutes. Those present stood in silence in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The Handbells group ended the vigil by playing “Dona NobisPacem,” translated as “Give Us Peace,” and those gathered joined in singing.