Don Shrubshell photo

Isaiah Taylor, left, and William Wallace carry a sign as protesters walk around a woman carrying a counter message, below, during a peace march from Peace Park at the University of Missouri-Columbia to the military recruiting office on Broadway. The counter protester declined to identify herself.

Tempers were as hot as temperatures yesterday afternoon as four area women gathered at the Armed Forces Recruiting station on Broadway to oppose a teen-organized war protest.

Don Shrubshell photo

American troops are "doing a good job, and it’s often a thankless job," said Rita Preckshot of Columbia. "They can’t tell these SOBs where they can get off, but I can."

A group of about 50 mostly high school-age girls marched from Peace Park to the recruiting office during the noon hour, holding anti-war signs and shouting peace chants. As they walked closer, military supporters taunted them.

"You look good for little second-graders," one woman yelled to the teens.

Meredith Cristal, who enters Hickman High School as a sophomore this fall, said she didn’t know how to respond to those who opposed the protest.

"I don’t know what they’re talking about," she said, referring to one sign that read: "Saddam thanks you for your support."

Meredith said her belief is simple. "Peace is good and war is bad," she said. "Killing is bad."

But it’s more complicated than that, said Latr’icia Vaughn, whose husband fought in Vietnam. "If we don’t stop it over there, it’s going to get over here," she said, raising her voice. "There would be more bombings over here, just like the twin towers."

Vaughn said the youths aren’t getting the whole picture. Positive things are happening in Iraq "because of our troops being there," she said. "The propaganda about killing all of those innocent people, well, some of those innocent people are terrorists in the making."

Preckshot said she believes those who once protested the Vietnam War are now using youths to help them turn America against the troops and force an end to the war in Iraq.

"The same aging hippies are just passing the torch down to younger generations," she said. "You support the troops, you don’t spit on them. … I saw plenty of disrespect to our military and" Vietnam "veterans. I don’t want to see that again."

Colan Holmes, a 21-year-old University of Missouri-Columbia student who joined the teens, insisted the youths do support the soldiers. He said older generations should be proud of the kids who participated in yesterday’s protest.

"It’s showing that the youth are taking responsibility for their destinies," he said. "The current generation is starting to see more interest in politics."

Vaughn said she thinks the teens are misinformed and do not realize the effects of their actions.

"This is not innocent," she said. "It may be ignorant, but it’s not innocent. It’s doing harm. It’s hurting our troops’ morale."

Preckshot said protesters don’t have to enlist in the military if they don’t support the war effort. "They don’t have to volunteer," she said. "They can go home and grow up."