As several hundred people congregated at the W 26 St injection point into the Fifth Avenue parade with various veteran peace and justice groups, including Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and others, the mood was hopeful and enthusiastic. "You will be surprised at the reception from the crowd," promised Ben Chitty from Vietnam Veterans Against the War, telling this reporter that veterans and their supporters are in the main calling for an an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. If the people lined along Fifth Avenue were any indication, his estimation was an accurate one. Even uniformed NYPD officers threw the familiar peace sign to the marchers and joined in the chant "Bring the Troops home - NOW!"

See video of the days events, including an evening gathering of hundreds of anti-war vets and other peace activists at Columbus Circle, at www.debar2004.com/video/111104nyc.rm