A tiny piece of German shrapnel remains in his body, a remnant of his moments on a battlefield in France 58 years ago.

On Saturday, the 78-year-old World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient - his medals affixed to his dark green tweed jacket - joined about 500 others in City Park who were protesting a possible war with Iraq.

"God knows war is an abomination, and occasionally we may have to go to war because there's no way out," Wood said. "But my interest here is in supporting the process of the United Nations. I want to get away from individual nations making war-making decisions."

A coalition of activist groups met at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue in City Park about 10 a.m. under the eyes of about 50 Denver police officers. The crowd, smaller than anti-war gatherings earlier in the fall, marched from City Park and down East Colfax Avenue to the steps of the Capitol.

"I think there's a sense among a lot of people that this war is going to happen no matter what, but it's not going to happen without our protest," said Mark Cohen of the Dandelion Center, one of the event's organizers. "You look at the arrogance of our government and it's clear they have their own agenda."

That agenda, according to many protesters' signs, is Middle East oil.

Jeff Fard, who spoke from the Capitol steps, said the war is based on fear. He's the director of Brother Jeff's Cultural Center & Cafe.

"Why aren't more of us here today?" Fard asked. "Many in the United States are motivated by fear."

Although Fard said he believed Saturday's turnout was good, he said a lot of people cave in to the stance of popular causes.

"Those who are opposed to war and bloodshed find themselves isolated," he said. "Fear is part of the factor that keeps them from speaking what's in their hearts."

After the speeches at the Capitol, a group of about 150 protesters, wearing pink and carrying a giant puppet with bloodstained hands and blindfolded eyes, marched on downtown streets. Their purpose: to gather at the Military Entrance Processing Station at 19th and Stout streets for a mass love-in, complete with passionate embraces and extended kisses.

Two Minnesotans, Patrick and Anna Lombardo, who were in Denver visiting their son, Ben Mattox, witnessed the police-flanked procession.

"We thought the president was here with all the motorcycles," Patrick said. "Whether or not I support the war hardly matters. The fact that they can do this is cool."