Sixth year in Iraq

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Thursday marks the sixth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq.

Since then more than 4,200 U.S. troops have died fighting there. About 138,000 U.S. service members are stationed there right now.

There are local events Thursday to honor those who fought in Iraq and the troops still serving there.

For some, the last six years has meant multiple tours of duty. For others they've provided endless support for loved ones.

At 5:00 p.m. students will march from the flag poles on WMU's campus to the federal building downtown. They'll hold a brief rally and then continue their march to Bronson Park.

Also, an observance will take place Thursday night at the First United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo. It is at 7:00 p.m. and is called an "interfaith service for peace." It's been held every year since the war began.

One of the local soldiers who toured in Iraq is Charles Heidelberg. The's the Principal at St. Margaret School in Otsego. We asked how his views on the war have changed since 2003.

"I remember talking to the kids about how I could see this becoming a very long and prolonged event and I wasn't real happy about that decision at the time to go in. Now, once we went in I became pretty supportive of staying there until we had tried to bring some sort of stability to the country. I didn't think it would be right for us to cut and run," said Heidelerg.

To mark this anniversary Veterans For Peace members are planning a march on the Pentagon this Saturday.

Click here to view a photo gallery of images from Iraq.

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If you'd like to participate, the march to Bronson Park will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the flag poles at WMU. The Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice observance will begin at 7:00 p.m. at 212 S. Park Street in Kalamazoo.