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Vets Hold Vigil For U.S. Dead In Iraq

Names Of More Than 4,000 Troops Read

KNSD

SAN DIEGO — A group of military veterans opposed to the war in Iraq held a vigil at the San Diego Embarcadero Monday morning.

They placed 250 small wooden crosses on the lawn along Harbor Drive in what they called a symbolic tribute to those who have been killed in the Iraq conflict.

The protestors also read the names of more than 4,000 U.S. troops that have died in battle in Iraq.

"We support our troops; we do not back the war," said Gil Field, president of the local chapter of Veterans For Peace. "Support the warrior, hate the war."

Monday's demonstration was a small gathering, with about 15 members of the peace group and Vietnam Veterans Against the War in attendance.

At one point, federal police told group leaders that the U.S. Navy, which owns some of the property on which the group had placed the crosses, wanted the crosses moved and the protestors to leave.

Vigil organizers politely told police they did not want to leave, but would do so if ordered.

The police said that was not necessary, and the war protestors and crosses stayed.