North Bay Remembers D-Day Veterans With Anniversary Rally

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Veterans and the military community will gather to honor the anniversary of D-Day with a rally Friday in San Rafael.

On D-Day during World War II, the Allied forces put forth the largest sea invasion to fight the fascists of Nazi Germany.

From noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, the Marin Veterans for Democracy will hold a rally at the Marin County Veterans Auditorium to honor the many men who fought and died that day.

That same day, at the National Mall in Washington D.C., there will be a gathering honoring those troops in D.C. for the 81st anniversary of D-Day.

The Marin Veterans for Democracy plans to use the event in San Rafael to bring attention to what they claim is harm being done to veterans.

“Veterans’ benefits and lives are being threatened by the Trump Administration cuts,” Patty Hoyt, a member of Marin Veterans for Democracy told Patch.

The Marin Veterans for Democracy stated veterans and their families are losing federal jobs, healthcare and benefits.

They are holding the rally to support veteran and military family employment, protect the Department of Veterans Affairs, and hold political figures accountable for harmful policies, a press release stated.

Speakers at the event include: Veteran Sean Stephens, Marin County Veterans Services Officer; representatives of Congressman Jared Huffman’s office and Assemblyman Damon Connolly; Eli Beckman, Corte Madera two-time Mayor and candidate for CA Assembly; Ernie Bergman, US Navy and Vietnam Veteran; Katie Weber-Linhart, Army Veteran; and Richard McCann, US Navy Swift Boat and Vietnam Veteran. There will also be statements from local VA staff members; Mark R. Smith, occupational therapist and NFFE Local 1 President; and Dr. Ginger Schechter Gong, most recently Chief Medical Officer of the Santa Rosa CBOC.