"Support the troops, bring them home," said Warren Henthorn of Choctaw, Oklahoma, whose son Jeffrey served eight years in the military before dying in Iraq, February 8, 2005. Mr. Henthorn is also a regular participant in weekly public vigils in Oklahoma where he and many others hold signs calling drivers to "honk for peace."

John Scripsick of Wayne, OK, and his wife Jan were also at the rally, in memory of their son Bryan, killed in Iraq on Sept. 6 of this year. Scripsick said he believes that the death and destruction caused by the war in Iraq is only winning more hostility and hatred against the United States.

"Bryan had his doubts about the mission of the war, but he went to Iraq out of loyalty to his buddies in his unit, "Scripsick said. "We must end this thing and bring our troops home immediately," he said.

Col. (ret.) Katherine Scheirman, served 20 years as a medical doctor in various Air Force assignments around the world. Her final assignment was as Chief of Medical Operations at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where casualties from Iraq are evacuated. Since leaving the military a year ago, Scheirman has been an outspoken advocate for ending the war in Iraq.

"I urge everyone to take five minutes every day to call our US Senators and Representatives to for an end to the war in Iraq," Scheirman said. "If members of Congress hear from hundreds of constituents every day, they will get the message that Americans want our troops out of Iraq," she said. She said US troops should focus on the real enemy, Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda.

Nathaniel Batchelder, director of the Peace House in Oklahoma City, pleaded, "Let us remember that we are here because of what we are for, not only what we are against."

Batchelder explained that the Peace House works for human rights, an end to the worst poverty and disease in the world, for fair wages for workers, preserving Social Security, and national health care.

"Right now, what stands in the way of these affordable goals is a war that Americans should not be tolerating," he said.

Music at the demonstration was provided by Oklahoma City's The Electric Primadonnas. Drumming was led by Jahruba, who performs in schools all over Oklahoma.

As a segment of this successful protest event, some 100 people participated in a "die-in" at 12:30 pm, led by Dr. Robin Meyers from the Congregational Church. Participants laid down in the grass along the highway for five minutes, simulating the death and dying caused by the war in Iraq.

Oklahoma City's event was in solidarity with a national action by United For Peace & Justice. From many cities in one voice we sent a clear and unified message to end this war and bring the troops home now."

Citizens with conscience and commitment are making sure that Oklahoma is going to be OK.

Thank you Oklahoma! We're all proud of you.