To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, dozens of Utahns gathered at the Historic Utah County Courthouse on Wednesday to remember fallen soldiers.

Those who attended said they turned out to show their support for American troops abroad, but also to voice their distaste for the war.

Alex Peacock, an Orem High School senior who organized the event, said the location of the event was key. Legislators such as Orrin Hatch have offices in the courthouse, and Peacock said he hopes state and national legislators will take note of the citizens' views. While he encouraged attendees to not give up and let their voices be heard by lawmakers, he said he did not know if the legislators would pay attention to their constituents.

"Knowing some of our legislators, I don't think they read the newspaper," he said.

A moment of silence was held for fallen soldiers and Iraqi civilians while singing hymns. Peacock also read an account of an American soldier who became disillusioned by the war. Jimmy Massey was honorably discharged from the Marines after serving in Iraq, and Peacock said the soldier described his shame in killing civilians and protecting oil fields instead of searching for Osama bin Laden.

Peacock said he has been against the war since it began when he was a child. He has no personal ties to the war, but Peacock said he has friends who have lost family members.

Filippo Magistro, a native Italian who moved to the United States 35 years ago, said the country has lost its prestige in the world. Magistro said America was a dream country when he was a child, but not anymore. Now, there is more freedom in Europe than the United States. Magistro said the country is viewed as arrogant throughout the world, and Americans are intent at being the best.

"As a country, we love to be at war," he said. "We like to make the point that we are a superpower."

Steven Dunn waved a black flag with a peace sign as he stood along University Avenue and passersby honked. Dunn, a member of the Utah Valley State College Democrats, said he sees value in the idea that problems in Iraq should be fixed, but the United States has had military in Iraq for years and has not accomplished anything.

Dunn said he does not believe the United States had reason to go into Iraq in the first place.

"I think we went for the weapons of mass destruction, and of course, there weren't any," he said. "So I think we went on half-truths and exaggerations."

While more than 40 demonstrators attended the vigil, Magistro said he was disappointed there were not more. Most of the participants were of high-school and college age, and Magistro said older people are more afraid of what their neighbors might think. As an American citizen, Magistro said he pays taxes and has the right to express his opinion, and others should feel the same way.

"If we don't get involved, change will not happen," he said.