Greenville, N.C. — As the Iraq War becomes more unpopular in the U.S., many military families said they worry about the negative effect that senitment could have on their loved ones still in harm's way.

Dawn Cash, whose husband was killed three years ago in Iraq, said she is offended by the number of people so openly against the war.

"It's very hurtful," Cash said. "I associate that with them saying my husband died in vain, and I refuse to believe that."

Capt. Christopher Cash was the company commander of his National Guard unit after spending 20 years in the Army. After three months in Iraq, he was gunned down by insurgents while helping his soldiers take cover.

"He loved it, and he believed in what he was doing," Dawn Cash said.

She still wears both his and her wedding rings, and the community is so proud of his service that the local armed forces reserve center was named in his honor.

According to a recent CNN poll, 46 percent of Americans don't believe the U.S. can win the war in Iraq, and 21 percent support an immediate pullout.

Although many war protestors maintain that they support the troops and are against only the war, Cash said their actions don't help U.S. troops at all.

"They believe in what they are doing, and that's a good thing. We don't need to have soldiers over there fighting receive the negativity going on in America," she said.

Americans are happy to go on with their business -- protesting when it suits their purpose -- while military families pay the price, Cash said.

"My life is forever changed by losing Chris," she said. "We all have the right to our own opinion. But at the same time, we need to respect the military and the families that have lost someone."