A local property manager and his wife, turned peace activists by the ongoing conflict in Iraq, announced plans Friday for an anti-war vigil in Truckee to build opposition to the American military action.

Kai Amundsen, a new volunteer with the liberal group MoveOn.org, called on the public to show their opposition to the Iraq War and the growing cost to California’s fourth district.

“We are spending over $275 million every day on the Iraq war,” Amundsen said to a light crowd of supporters at a Jibboom Street coffee shop Friday morning. “This amounts to over 1.1 billion dollars every year from our congressional district alone.

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We are spending in one year more than 10 times what Tahoe Forest Hospital is asking for in Measure C over the next 30 years to bring our hospital up to current and future standards.”

Amundsen called on Truckee residents to stand with him on the public sidewalk in front of the Gateway Shopping Center on Donner Pass Road at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

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Although he received just three signups at the press conference, Amundsen said he hopes more than 50 people attend the vigil.

Among his supporters Friday was Lori Radzville, 39-year-old Truckee mother of two. Wearing a tan camouflage T-shirt with a bronze star pinned to the collar, Radzville talked about her interest in ending the war.

“I lost my nephew in Iraq,” she said, holding up a shiny dog-tag that read, “My Hero ” Spec. Andrew P. Daul, Army Iraq 12/19/06.”

“He earned a Bronze Star [the one on her lapel] and a Purple Heart,” Radzville said. “He wasn’t there to kill people ” he was there to help. My nephew was building a road to a hospital.”

Another supporter and Truckee resident, Julie Vietor, made a common correlation to a past conflict.

“I think we should get our troops out ” it’s Vietnam all over again.”

Amundsen asked those who attend the vigil to bring signs that are respectful. He noted that profanity printed on protest signs could undermine the peace effort.

Amundsen said he feels confident that conducting a vigil is the kind of participatory democracy that American service personnel are fighting for.

“Our troops are fighting for freedom, and freedom not exercised is lost,” he said.