CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It's been five years since the United States invaded Iraq. It’s a war that's taken more than 4,000 U.S. soldiers’ lives and an issue that continues to deeply divide the country.
There’s a local anti-war protest where people hope it's not another five years before our troops come home.
Putting up a wall of remembrance is something Patriots for Peace supporters wish they weren't so good at, but they say they've had time to get it right.
“We never dreamed we'd be here five years later adding pieces to the wall,” WV Citizen Action’s Gary Zuckett said.
As the wall at the Veterans Memorial was going up we saw Nancy Harrison stop as she was leaving work at the capitol to take a closer look. We were curious what caught her attention.
“I have a son in the Air National Guard. I think what they're doing in Iraq, I know there's good because there's good coming out of it, things are changing there but my heart breaks too,” Nancy Harrison of Nitro said.
Time has changed her perspective because five years ago she wouldn’t even look.
“It made me angry to see this and I never stopped and looked,” Nancy said.
As the years have gone on, so has the support for the Patriots for Peace, but those who support the war still say they support these folks right to be here.
“Absolutely it's their right to do that. Just as it's my right to support the war it's their right to be against it,” Karen Looney of Roane County said.
Those against it say this long list of names tells the whole story.
“What a waste. What a waste. I’m the mother of seven children and I can not imagine a parent who would have a child anywhere in the Middle East. I can't imagine that it's terrible,” Carol Pendleton of South Charleston said.
They’re hoping now the more voices they have speaking out against the war, the more likely someone will listen. Also at Tuesday night’s event was a U.S. marine who spent time in Iraq. He’s now speaking out against the war and says he wants people to know, not supporting the war, doesn't mean you don't support the soldiers.
Patriots for Peace has events planned for this entire week throughout West Virginia.