The love for our sons and our nation has driven the two of us, two ordinary mothers, to extraordinary lengths. We’re the mothers of sons who right now are walking the streets of Baghdad, bravely and honorably serving their country.

You may have seen us sometime, standing at the Sunnyside Road overpass on Interstate 205, holding up anti-war signs to jar people out of their apathy. Last week, as we held our usual Saturday vigil, we were still reeling from the news that our boys’ tour will be extended at least three more months. We’ll not see them on Mother’s Day. Or their birthdays. They’ll not be coming home as planned in October. They’ll spend another Christmas without their families. We also received word that the 31st soldier from their unit has been killed. They say their platoon has suffered more casualties than any other in their infantry brigade and that it’s badly compromised.All mothers worry about their children, but our anxiety is palpable and unrelenting.Our sons are assigned to the same nine-man squad. They didn’t know each other before their assignment. Neither did we. We recently met through Military Families Speak Out and have forged an unlikely friendship. One of us is a conservative evangelical Christian, the other a liberal secular humanist. But we are united in two things — our love for our families and our unshakable belief that the occupation of Iraq is wrong. Our leaders are exploiting the troops’ virtue, their honor, their courage.So we do what we can, two Oregon mothers, to end the war.As we stand, holding our signs, we receive many a disgusted look, thumbs down, obscene gesture. But we’ve developed thick skins through this ordeal. Insults mean little when you live in fear every moment of the day. Although our sons would surely be disturbed and demoralized to learn of their moms’ abusive treatment from those who say they support the troops.Our sons have decided to honor their commitment in large part out of love and loyalty for their fellow soldiers. We’re immensely proud of them. And they, in turn, have told us they’re grateful that we’re supporting them by protesting the war.This war may not touch you personally. That would not be so if it were your child who was placed in harm’s way by a president who refuses to admit he was wrong and a Congress that refuses to cut off funding. Those who seek peace should join us in publicly protesting the war. And to those who disagree with us, instead of the obscene gestures and hateful words, perhaps you might ask yourself a couple of questions: What is it that you are doing to support the troops and would it be different if it were your loved one at war?

Maggie Pondolfino lives in Southeast Portland. Suzanne Brownlow lives in Damascus.This Commentary Appeared in The Oregonian on April 19, 2006