Helena High School junior Sean Morrison has a friend who joined the U.S. Army, and while he respects the nearly 300,000 military troops like him deploying to the Middle East, he doesn't support a war with Iraq.

Standing near his high school, Morrison and 35 other students lined the streets of Montana Avenue Wednesday, hoisting anti-war signs and chanting slogans of peace.

Approaching the draft age, the students, who were only children during the Persian Gulf War, stood in solidarity before marching on the Montana Capitol to cast their voice into the national fray.

Like many students, Morrison finds himself in the awkward position of supporting family members like his grandfather who defended freedom in the past, while voicing his own opposition to war.

With his grandfather's service ribbons pinned upon his chest, Morrison flashed a T-shirt inked with the words, "My patriotism is my concern for the action of my country — No War."

"To me, being patriotic is taking part in democracy," Morrison said.

Morrison, who hopes to study law or journalism at the University of Montana after high school, wasn't alone in his anti-war stance. While his peers stand separated by generations from Vietnam, their protest was laden with icons reminiscent of the '60s. Students gave the peace sign to passing motorists while Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and John Lennon played on the radio.

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one," Lennon sang. "I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one."

But unlike protests in the 60s, Metta Gilbert, an HHS junior, used the Internet and e-mail to unite students for the demonstration, linking her school with other's across the country while taking part in the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition's protest against a war.

"What do we need?" Gilbert called.

"Love," the students yelled.

"What do we need?"

"Love."

Gilbert, tall and well-spoken, said she isn't convinced war is necessary. But she does believe students have a right to voice their opinion on national issues, and have a hand in shaping the future they'll soon be dealt.

"I think there's better answers," Gilbert said. "There's got to be an easier, more peaceful way."

Gilbert, along with juniors Ariann Hess and Tim Fiedler, made it clear that while they're against a war in Iraq, they do support American troops ready to serve if called upon.

"We're anti-war, anti-fighting, but I don't think there's anything out here that says we're anti-soldier," Gilbert said.

Gilbert, Hess and Fiedler haven't bought into President Bush's so-called "Axis of Evil." They believe that selfish motivations are pushing the nation closer to war. Gilbert also said that HHS teachers have done well in opening conversations to various opinions.

"There could be more discussions in the classroom," Gilbert said. "But it puts teachers in a horrible position."

Many students, like seniors Adelle Donahue, Jill Lombardi, and Brie Mullins, expressed concerns that a large-scale conflict could lead to a draft. That, they said, would hit them hard.

"A lot of our friends are going into the military," Lombardi said.

"There are too many unnecessary casualties on both sides," Mullins said.

"We don't want to go to war," Donahue added.

John Lennon gave way to Bob Dylan on the radio and the creator of the "peace mix" compilation, sophomore Max Dufrechou, said the music is part of the statement. He let Dylan's words do the talking for him.

"How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man …," Dylan sang as Dufrechou smiled. "How many times must the cannon balls fly, before they're forever banned?"

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or mkidston@helenair.com.