Anti-war protesters conduct a silent prayer walk among the crosses Sunday at the camp near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Crawford, Tex. ? War protesters camping out near President Bush’s ranch prepared Monday for a three-week bus tour to spread their anti-war message to people and lawmakers in 25 states.

Three buses were to depart Wednesday from the makeshift camp started by Cindy Sheehan along the main road leading to Bush’s ranch, protesters said. Sheehan arrived Aug. 6, soon after his Texas vacation began, and vowed to stay until month’s end unless he talked to her about the war that claimed her 24-year-old son Casey’s life.

Since then, several thousand people have visited “Camp Casey” for a few hours, days or weeks.

“We had no idea the ditch in Crawford had such phenomenal acoustics,” said Nancy Lessin, co-founder of Military Families Speak Out, one of four organizations sponsoring the Bring Them Home Now Tour.

The tour will end with the three buses meeting in Washington, D.C., for a Sept. 24 anti-war march organized by United for Peace and Justice and the ANSWER Coalition.

Pro-Bush rallies also are expected in cities along the bus tour, which will follow northern, central and southern routes.

Sheehan will be on the southern route, with its first stop in Austin for a Wednesday afternoon rally.

Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan, but his aides have said there are no plans to change his schedule to meet with her. His vacation is to end Friday.