A march to protect military veterans’ benefits and public service jobs is scheduled in Coronado on June 6, the anniversary of D-Day, in support of a similar event at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Mal Sandie, a retired Navy captain who will be leading the march from Spreckels Park to the corner of 4th Street and Orange Avenue, emphasized that everyone is welcome at the event.
It’s not targeting any politics, it’s nonpartisan.
Retired Navy Captain Mal Sandie
“It’s not targeting any politics, it’s nonpartisan,” Sandie said.
The rally in D.C. came about due to proposals to decrease the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce by 15%, or around 83,000 employees. VA Secretary Douglas A. Collins announced that plan before receiving backlash, and subsequently clarified that those numbers represented more a goal than anything set in stone.
“Our goal is a 15% decrease – could be more, could be less,” Collins told the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
The proposed VA cutbacks were announced despite an executive order issued by President Trump saying veterans should be treated like the “heroes they are,” and ensuring that they continue to have access to care, benefits and services.
In the 2026 budget request, the Trump administration actually proposed increasing overall spending for the department by around 4%.
However, despite what has been said, veterans and military families will be gathering at the National Mall, intent on “defending the values and promises made to those who served.”
Sandie acknowledged the proposed 4% budget increase, but said that extra money just covers the inflation rate and he wants to join those in D.C. who are fighting “for veterans rights and veterans benefits and to keep the VA going strong.”
“I’m very concerned about the veterans administration being gutted. I’m very worried about our veterans,” Sandie said in a video made prior to the event.
The march route ends at 4th Street and Orange Avenue, an intersection used by personnel exiting Naval Air Station North Island.
“We can see all the departing traffic from the base, because a lot of veterans and a lot of current military work on the base, so they get to see us,” Sandie said.
The event will start at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 6 at Spreckels Park.
