MOUNT VERNON — A group of peace activists gathered in downtown Mount Vernon five years ago, holding silent vigil against a just-started war in Iraq.

They were at it again Wednesday night. A group of about 40 joined war protesters across the nation Wednesday night and marked the five-year anniversary of the Iraq War. The local group held candles at dusk and sang “We Shall Overcome” at the corner of South First and West Division streets for nearly an hour.

“I can’t believe I’m here again,” one protester said as the group sat in a circle an hour beforehand to share their thoughts on the war.

Thinking back five years, many in the group sat solemnly and said they were saddened by the government’s 2003 decision to go to war.

“I was hoping we could stop this thing from going to an invasion,” said Howard Mantle of Mount Vernon. “Millions of people of the world came out and said ‘don’t invade Iraq’ and what happened?”

Some angrily recalled then-Secretary of State Colin Powell’s February 2003 speech to the United Nations, where Powell said former Iraqi ruler Saddam Huessein had weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons have been found in Iraq.

One older man wearing a baseball cap that read “Korean War” was among those opposing the war in Iraq.

“I didn’t spend 14 months in Korea for the kind of garbage we got today,” said the man, Tom Day of Sedro-Woolley. “What bothers me the most is the dishonesty in the government.”

Others were upset the war had lasted so long and called for a military pullout.

“It just needs to end immediately,” said John M. Smith of Clear Lake. “We’ve got ourselves in a huge mess.”

One woman said it was important to keep the public aware of the ongoing war.

“I think we really all need to stand up, and not just today, but say Iraq is really important to us ... we’re not letting it go,’ said Carmen Werder of the Blanchard area.

Lynn Pokela of Camano Island encouraged the group to remain hopeful for the future.

As the group walked toward their protest corner, they passed black model caskets stood that outside their downtown meeting room Wednesday night. A sign taped onto one casket read “Casualties 3,990.” Someone noted one more American soldier had died in Iraq since the sign was painted that morning.

The group assembled and began the first round of song. Deymian Lesar of La Conner held an American flag with one hand and made a two-fingered peace sign with the other.

* Franny White can be reached at 360-416-2148 or .