Two women — one 68, the other 85 — spent a sunny afternoon in Langley Park Thursday.

Sounds like nothing extraordinary, except that the two ladies were on a mission: A mission for peace in Iraq and elsewhere in the world.

Patricia Brooks of Coupeville and Lorraine Smalley of Langley both gained national attention for their recent peace efforts.

Brooks went on a hunger strike for 21 days to convince President Bush to change his course on the Iraq war. And Smalley collected more than 1,000 signatures for a petition that was delivered to Washington, D.C. at the end of September.

On Thursday, the women met for the first time as they gathered with other South Whidbey peace activists in Langley for a protest against war. A small crowd of protesters sang, wrote letters and signed petitions to urge Congress to come up with a plan by the end of the year to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

The gathering coincided with other protests against the war that were held throughout the country.

“We hear about single, solitary acts making a difference. I really think it’s important — and time — to organize,” said Shari James, one of the protesters.

About 100 people came and went throughout the day to protest or simply to express their solidarity, said Mully Mullally, one of the organizers.

The protest was held the same day as many other anti-war demonstrations across the nation, including one in Seattle that drew several hundred protesters and led to the arrest of five people.

It was a much more peaceful scene in Langley. Many of the protesters gathered around as Linda Morris and Mullally who recalled their trip to Washington D.C. where they delivered Smalley’s petition for peace to the offices of Congressman Rick Larsen, Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell.

While there, they tried to hold elected officials’ feet to the fire on the war. Most didn’t have much to say, pair reported.

“There was no discussion about how to end the war in Iraq,” Morris said.

“The elephant is sitting in the middle of the floor, but nobody is talking about it,” she said of the war.

Though public opinion polls continue to show declining support for the war — and most Americans now think it was a mistake to invade Iraq —

Morris and Mullally told their fellow activists that it isn’t fruitful to look to Washington and await change.

“Political will will not come from the people we elect, but people like us,” Mullally said.

“Going on the streets making lots of noise,” she added.

The women recalled that it took about three years until the protests against the Vietnam War received mainstream support.

“Maybe that’s about to start now for this war,” Morris said.

At the Langley peace gathering, activists lined Second Street with signs detailing the number of soldiers killed and the ever-growing cost of the war.

The Iraq war is now costing taxpayers almost $2 billion a week – almost twice as much as in the first year of the conflict and 20 percent more than last year, according to a Congressional Research Service report released in late September.

The Congressional Research Service report estimates that after Congress approves two more bills, the total cost of the Iraq war since 2001 will reach about $379 billion.

Last month, U.S. military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan surpassed the number of people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As of The Record’s press time on Friday, the Department of Defense had reported 2,737 U.S. military fatalities in Iraq.

Mullally said people can do different things to express their feelings about the war, such as writing letters to the government or fasting in support of the peace movement.

Brooks recalled her hunger strike and the national attention it got. She fielded calls from radio shows, as well as other media inquiries.

“People were interested why I was doing this. I did not get hostile messages. It all was extremely caring,” Brooks said.

With a shaking voice, she said she had concerns about Syria and Iran.

“They (the government) start demonizing them. Iran and Syria are next,” Brooks said.

The protesters also shared concerns about post-traumatic stress disorder in returning soldiers, as well as shrinking veterans’ benefits and the importance of supporting military members who have served.

One of the protesters summed up what many people thought.

“I think peace is the most critical issue for our country and the world,” said Myokyo, a Freeland resident who uses a single name.

“I have not been much of an activist. Political gatherings are excruciating. But this is different. It’s good to have people to maintain positive energy. It’s inspiring people doggedly interested,” she said.