Dozens of black-clad anti-war protesters wearing white face masks marched single file Saturday morning from the Three Village Shopping Center to the site of a vigil on the corner of Route 25A and Bennetts Road in Setauket.

The march was in observance of the eight years that have passed since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and in remembrance of those soldiers and civilians who have lost their lives overseas. The event was coordinated by the North Country Peace Group, a grassroots organization comprised of Three Villagers who advocate diplomacy as a means of ending war.

More than 20 religious, community and peace organizations from across Long Island endorsed the march, according to a statement issued by NCPG. Members of some of these groups, including Food Not Bombs and the Bellport Women in Black, attended the demonstration.

“With each passing year, you realize that perpetual preemptive war is not the way to go, even though that has become U.S. policy,” said Bill McNulty, 76, of Setauket, a member of NCPG. “We come today with the help of all these additional peace groups to witness to the fact that this should not be the policy that our government follows.”

Rosalie Yelen, a Huntington Station resident and member of the peace and social justice group Code Pink, told the crowd that more than 4,400 American troops have died in Iraq.

“Tens of thousands have returned home maimed, blinded, scarred and suffering from traumatic brain injury,” Yelen said. “War and occupation can never bring democracy.”

Following the march, demonstrators remained at the southeast corner of Route 25A and Bennetts Road until the early afternoon. Some held signs displaying messages of peace and others had large photos of soldiers who have died in the conflicts.

On the opposite side of the street, members of another group, the North Country Patriots, gathered as they have done every Saturday for the past six years to express their support for American troops, as well as the missions they are undertaking.

“The main thing we stand for is that we support our boys, we support our troops,” said founder Howard Ross, 67, of Setauket. “These people serve our country honorably and that’s why we’re here.”

While observing the NCPG demonstration across the street, Ross expressed dismay.

“It just doesn’t make any sense to me why they can just all of a sudden believe that this is right, and that we should just pack it in. I mean, the mideast is on fire,” he said.

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