Lawrence resident Allan Hanson waves a flag among other war protesters on Massachusetts Street.

Just before noon on a sunny Saturday, banners are tied methodically to trees in front of the Douglas County Courthouse.

A steady stream of protesters file up to the front steps, leaf through a pile of signs, choose one and head for the edge of the sidewalk.

Toting portable benches and peace flags, they greet each other with hugs and kisses.

They’ve done this before. Actually, it’s been done more than 260 times before.

“If something happens during the week that you get really, really mad at, at least you can come here and hold a sign,” said Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice coordinator Christine Smith.

Sept. 7, 2002, was the first Saturday the coalition organized a protest for peace in Iraq. The war in Iraq hadn’t started yet, but the rumblings had begun.

In the beginning, people came by the hundreds. Now, the weekly peace vigil draws a few dozen attendees.

Among them is Christy Kennedy, who holds the sign that keeps tally of soldiers who have died in Iraq. That day it read 3,836. It would need updating by the next Saturday.

“I always have to change it,” Kennedy said.