The wind blew hard, but it only made the flags flutter harder.

Students and DeKalb residents assembled at King Memorial Commons on Wednesday night despite the chilling wind and cold rain for the Support the Troops Rally organized by the NIU Veterans Club.

Carrying umbrellas and shrinking from the strong wind, the small crowd of supporters bore flags, signs and pictures of their loved ones.

Kathleen Brim, a local resident, carried a picture of her son-in-law Dennis Medina with his 1-year-old son, taken two days before he was deployed.

Medina, a former NIU student now stationed on the border of Syria, missed seeing his son’s first steps because of the war.

“[Medina] said the only news they hear is anti-war protests, and it’s very demoralizing to the troops,” Brim said. “I’d like to see more shows of support.”

Prepared for the wet weather, a canopy had been set up and speakers were covered with garbage bags provided by club members.

Color guards from the DeKalb County Marine Corps carrying four flags marched to the canopy, followed by a singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

Amanda Weisbacker, Army veteran and wife of a Gulf War veteran, was the first speaker at the rally.

“The troops are over there doing the job they’ve been trained to do,” Weisbacker, a former vice president of the club, said. “What we can do best is support the friends and family left behind.”

She reminded the listeners to call and check on anyone who has a loved one overseas.

“You may not agree with the war but you have to agree with the great job our soldiers are doing,” she said as she finished her speech.

Sandra Davis, wife of a Vietnam war veteran, spoke next and commented on the lack of support for families left behind and the hardships they face.

“Even though it’s cold out here, our hearts are warm with support for our troops,” Davis said.

The speakers were followed with a prayer by Jake Waddle from the Lutheran Campus Ministries for the troops and innocent civilians in Iraq.

A reading of the names of the soldiers deceased and missing in action followed.

Chris Collins, a senior geography major and a former active duty soldier, said it was very hard listening to the names being read as he was hoping he wouldn’t hear a familiar name.

The rally ended with the color guards marching out to the bagpipes.

“It gives us a sense of relief that there are people out there who feel the same pain that your feeling,” said Maria Seda, sophomore early childhood education major, who attended the rally to show support for her best friend and others fighting in Iraq.