As the U.S. marks the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraqi war, a group of veterans is crisscrossing the country, hoping to draw public support for finishing the military mission. The "National Heroes Tour" stopped in Austin on Thursday, March 20, but organizers know changing anti-war sentiment is an uphill battle.

To date, the war against terrorism has claimed 4,000 American lives and cost an estimated $500 billion. It's also become one of the most divisive issues facing the nation. The fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq was marked with protests in different cities nationwide. Some Iraqi veterans were among the demonstrators.

Meanwhile in Austin, another group of veterans is also speaking out. “Vets for Freedom” is a non-partisan, non-profit group. The co-founders are decorated military leaders who have written books about their service in Iraq. Among them is Pete Hegseth, a former U.S. Army first lieutenant and Princeton University graduate. He says gone are the days of busting down doors to flush out insurgents. Now military strategy is different.

"People don't understand that we've completely transformed our approach living amongst the population, defending the population and bringing the violence down and as that violence has dropped, the Iraqi people have stood up," said Hegseth.

"Vets for Freedom" says Americans are wasting time debating the merits of going to war. Instead the group wants the public to support a successful and honorable strategy to end it.

"The question and the conversation should be about what to do? What do we do from here forward to insure that we leave behind a stable Iraq and defeat our enemies in al Qaeda? That should be the substance of the conversation," said Hegseth.

"Vets for Freedom" is in the midst of its "National Heroes" tour which is making 22 stops in 10 states by mid-April. Facing growing anti-war sentiment wherever it goes, the group knows it will be a challenging trip.