Clear skies, brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures provided a pleasant environment to peacefully protest President Bush's visit to St. Vincent College yesterday, even as the location left much to be desired as far as access and accommodation.

Those who wanted to protest Mr. Bush's appearance at the Catholic college's commencement were relegated to a so-called "free speech zone" in the construction area of a road-widening project along Route 30 about three-quarters of a mile from the campus entrance.

Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette A coalition of groups protested President Bush's visit to St. Vincent College. Click photo for larger image. Listen in Listen to comments made by demonstrators protesting President Bush's speech at St. Vincent College: Army veteran Paul Abernathy Pete Shell, Thomas Merton Center Francine Porter, Code Pink Diane Santoriello, mother of soldier killed in Iraq More photos See a special Photo Journal.

Still, that didn't stifle the free speech or the spirit or the mellowness of the 150 or so protesters who had to maneuver across a slanted plane and large ruts from recently bulldozed earth to take up positions along Route 30.

They applauded anti-Bush, anti-war, pro-peace speeches from members of the 11 organizations involved in the demonstration. They held aloft handmade protest banners and a large dove made from what appeared to be bedsheets. They waved heartily and cheered motorists who honked their horns in support, their numbers far outdistancing the few who derided the protesters.

The gathering included the college-aged, but much of it was made up by those who were college-aged -- and likely in protests -- in the 1960s, when a far different yet likewise unpopular war was raging halfway across the world.

But it wasn't just those who fought against the Vietnam War but some who fought in it who turned out yesterday. And there were mothers who lost sons in Iraq and veterans who lost faith in the war, as well as members of religious orders and those who are simply religious, those who see war as antithetical to their beliefs.

"Uncle Sam" made an appearance. One young woman played a flute while another banged on a drum. A middle-aged man held high an American flag and wore a T-shirt declaring, "Christian Liberal."

There were banners and signs of every color and style. "GWB is a WMD," read one. Others read, "Remember Democracy? Kind of nice, wasn't it?" and "Blessed Are the Peacemakers," and "Enough Mother's Tears."

There were a few tears yesterday. There were some hugs. And there were many smiles.

In an impassioned speech, Diane Santoriello of Verona said Mr. Bush had not only "killed" her son -- 1st Lt. Neal Santoriello, 24, who died near Fallujah on Aug. 13, 2004 -- but also "he killed my Constitution, he stole my government, he's taken away my rights. He's a man without honor.

"For him to be at a church-related institution speaking to young people about how they should conduct themselves when they get out in the world is an abomination."

Referring to the location the protesters had been assigned, she added, "We may be in a ditch today but we'll be on the streets tomorrow and the next day and the next day. We're going to stop this war."

Wearing Army fatigues and sounding like a soul-stirring preacher, Paul Abernathy, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, said he has been thanked by many people for serving his country as an Army Reserves combat engineer in Iraq in 2003-04.

"The reality is I didn't serve my country," the South Fayette resident said, his voice rising. "I did not fight for the United States of America. I fought for ... the personal agenda of George W. Bush.

"There is no room for the policies of George W. Bush in Christian theology, especially Benedictine ideology," referring to the order that founded St. Vincent. "The administration of St. Vincent should know they have betrayed the ideology of the Benedictine Order by inviting George W. Bush to speak. They have tainted the name of their institution."

Cynthia Walter, a biology professor at St. Vincent who was among the faculty members opposed to Mr. Bush's visit, wore a graduation gown to the protest, missing her first commencement at the college in 23 years. She said the controversy over Mr. Bush's visit had the positive effect of creating a "real awakening" on the campus for students "to really look deeply into what Benedictine values mean."

After more than two hours, at about 11:20 a.m. as Mr. Bush was still addressing the students, the rally broke up. Many of the demonstrators headed to a nearby "peace picnic."

One of the Iraq veterans spotted the Rev. Gregory Swiderski, chaplain for the Sisters of Divine Providence in McCandless. He pointed to a silver container the priest carried and asked, "Is that the sacrament you have in there?"

"No," Father Swiderski replied as he swept his outstretched arm across the panorama of protesters before him.

"This is the sacrament," he said, smiling. "They are the sacrament."