It didn’t take Whidbey Island’s military supporters long to get organized after war broke out in Iraq a week and a half ago. Since that first week, there have been demonstrations — both to support the troops and to oppose the war — on the streets of Whidbey Island every day.

Many of those demonstrations include the wives left behind by servicemen headed to war.

Nicole Brown lives in Coupeville while her husband, Lawrence, serves on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. When she drives through Oak Harbor, she is affected by the peace protesters who flock to the intersection of Main Street and Highway 20.

“I see the people on the corner and it makes me so mad,” Brown said. “It’s really hard not to say anything.”

She decided to let her actions speak for her, and joined other Naval Air Station Whidbey wives recently when they staked out a corner in Oak Harbor to show their support for their deployed husbands.

They showed their support by finding their flags, making posters and marching to the corner of Highway 20 and Whidbey Avenue to rally support for the troops.

“This is a big morale booster for the wives,” said Victoria Rice, who helped put together the spur-of-the-moment rally.

She said holding the rally was better than staying at home and watching events unfold on television.

Rice, who was waving a flag on in the demonstration two Fridays ago with her 7-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, supports what her husband, Tom, is doing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

“I think it needs to be done. I support our president and I support our troops,” she said. “The Iraqi people deserve the same rights we have.”

Rice’s words were echoed by other wives who attended the rally.

“It’s not that we want war, but it’s necessary to get peace,” said Tanya Karsch, who last saw her husband, Kass, three weeks ago. He is also serving on the Nimitz.

Coupeville’s Brown said she keeps in touch with her husband through e-mail, but that has its limits.

“When you’re worried about them it’s much easier to talk,” she said.

She said the only information she’ll believe of her husband returning is when she sees him in person.

Throughout the rally passersby joined also. There were soon more than a dozen wives and supporters.

“I think we need to support the troops,” said Sharon Paulsen, an Oak Harbor student. “If we don’t support them, then what’s the point?”

Today, a rally to support the troops is scheduled to begin at noon at City Beach Park in Oak Harbor.