From left, Lawrence residents Alisha Knight, Courtney Witten and Paula Rose join a group of anti-war demonstrators Wednesday. The peace marchers walked from Veterans Park to the intersection of 23rd and Louisiana streets near the Army recruiting offices, where they displayed banners and waved to passing motorists.

About 40 people took to the street in protest Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.

“We just have to come out and say our voice,” said Wichita State senior Janelle Bachand. “I think it’s time to get out.”

Bachand and others joined members of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice on a short march down Louisiana Street from Veterans Park to 23rd Street, the site of a military recruiting center.

Military personnel at the recruiting office watched the protesters, whom Lawrence police confined to a patch of grass at the northwest corner of the intersection. The protesters held signs that read “End the Occupation” and “Realize Real Lies.”

War veterans from the recruiting office held an American flag behind the protesters.

“By law, it’s their right (to protest),” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Ferrari. “There’s a fine line between their rights and disrespecting the troops.”

Several protesters said too many people – including nearly 4,000 American soldiers – have lost their lives in the war.

“I’m a Vietnam veteran and I’m totally against this war,” said Bruce Smith, a member of the peace coalition. “We’ve lost too many people and too many innocent Iraqis have gotten killed, too, and it’s mad. It’s really mad.”

As police helped keep the situation under control, military officials said they were more concerned about their fellow soldiers who are in Iraq than they were about a few dozen protesters.

“It’s all about them (American soldiers), and it’s all about the ones who are still serving over there,” Ferrari said.