Five years later, people still calling for peace

Shortly after Operation Iraqi Freedom was initiated on March 19, 2003, protesters organized and held signs on a Rockford street corner.

Passing motorists scorned them, calling them hippies, or unpatriotic.

Five years later, some 4,000 U.S. servicemen and women have lost their lives, another 30,000 have been injured, wartime debt is approaching $1 trillion and opposition to the war has grown across the country - and in the Rock River Valley.

"It's a lot different now," said Michael Suess, 51, an Elkhorn, Wis., peace activist. "People aren't cussing at us. They're honking their horns and giving us the peace sign."

Suess participated in one local observance Wednesday to mark the five-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Suess was one of nearly 50 people who stood at the southeast corner of Alpine and Hillcrest roads, waving signs at motorists hoping to send a message to legislators to "bring the troops home."

For nearly 20 minutes, those in attendance read, from a seemingly endless list, the names of Illinois soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq.

The Rev. Ken Storck of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Holly Johnson of Rockford

Progressive Meetup, a local activist group, organized the event.

Storck said terrorism is a reality, but he said you don't combat it with "war mongering."

"We need foreign policies that aren't based on fear, but on justice," Storck said.

"Pre-emptive war isn't the way to overcome terrorism. We need to unseat terrorism by feeding the hungry, clothing the needy and helping the poor. That will do more to undermine the terrorists than war."

Richard Gibson, 63, of Rockford, said history is repeating itself as the U.S. fights a war it cannot win.

"We're from the Vietnam era, and we didn't think that this could happen again," his wife, Linda Gibson, 64, said.

Later in that evening, another observance was held at North Main and Mulberry streets in downtown Rockford.

The Victory Statue, created to honor the men and women serving in the six branches of military, served as a backdrop.

Rufus Cadigan, a member of MoveOn.org, a national political action group, hosted the candlelight vigil attended by more than 30 people.

Reading a prepared statement, Cadigan said:

"Hundreds of vigils like this are happening all over the country, and together we're sending a message to our leaders.

"We're here to say that it's time to bring our troops home and invest in clean energy, affordable health care, access to education and jobs.

"We're here to show politicians in Washington that more Americans than ever are demanding an end to the war."

Netha Morgan of Rockford said her son, David, 22, is in the Army and has been told he will be deployed in June to Iraq.

She shook her head at the Victory Statue.

"You want to know what real victory is? The victory is never having to send people to war. That would be victory."

Chris Green can be reached at (815) 987-1241 or cgreen@rrstar.com.