Fallen soldier's dad joins protest to ‘get the war stopped'

While others honored the state's veterans with parades or memorials, a group of protesters at the state Capitol were fighting for an end to the war in Iraq.

The group Veterans for Peace organized a protest Monday in an effort to cap the number of Iraq war veterans by ending the war and pulling out the troops.

Warren Henthorn, whose son Army Spc. Jeffrey Henthorn was killed in Iraq in 2005, said there is no end in sight for the war. Though some were surprised when he first started speaking out against the war, Warren Henthorn said more people have moved to his side as the war continues.

"The main purpose (of speaking out) is to get the war stopped so there don't have to be anymore families like mine,” he said, holding a flag that said, "Lest they be forgotten.”

Justin Cliburn, the south-central regional coordinator for Iraq Veterans Against the War, urged other veterans to step out and openly oppose the war.

"I'm here to bring the veterans out of the woodwork — those who feel used and dishonored every day by this illegal war,” he said.

The military leadership, including President Bush, has let its veterans down, said Jeri Reed, whose son, Cody Camacho, is an Iraq war Army veteran.

"I am truly grateful Cody became a veteran because that means he came home,” she said.

Sixteen people gathered at the protest, donning signs saying "Honk for Peace,” "Peace is Possible,” and "War is not the answer.”