On the 81st anniversary of D-Day, about 20 people gathered at WKFL Park in Homer on Friday, June 6, to remember those who fought to liberate Europe from fascism, while highlighting the need to support veterans amid job losses and benefit cuts imposed by the Trump administration.

The event was sponsored locally by the Coalition for a Healthy Democracy and structured as an open mic, with participants given four minutes to speak. Winter Marshall-Allen said it’s important to remember the power of collective action in the face of tyranny.

Hal Shepherd said while he was there to honor those who fought for freedom on D-Day and reflect on their sacrifices, he felt the call to stand together in solidarity, especially in times of constitutional crisis.

Shepherd said there are many serious problems veterans face including mental health issues, chronic substance abuse, suicide, traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.

“We need to be informing and standing up for our veterans who are experiencing these problems and illnesses and injuries,” Shepherd said. “At a time right now when government programs for veterans are being cut drastically and alarmingly, we should inform members of our congressional delegation, as well as state and local leaders, that we expect them to advocate for preserving and protecting veterans and the benefits they have rightfully earned.”

According to an April 8 press release from Senate Democrats, the Department of Government Efficiency directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to cancel over 800 contracts that support everything from chemotherapy treatment to records digitization. Additionally, they note in the release that over 2,400 VA staffers have been fired to date, with DOGE announcing plans to terminate 80,000 more.

Local business owner and Vietnam veteran Mike LeMay accused President Donald Trump of lacking respect for veterans and their sacrifices.

He noted when France commemorated the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I in 2018, President Donald Trump canceled his visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.

“He said, quote, ‘Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers’, unquote,” LeMay said.

LeMay said that in a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 Marines who lost their lives at the Battle of Belleau Wood as “suckers for getting killed.” LeMay said that this implies Trump has no understanding of concepts such as patriotism, service and sacrifice.

“Donald Trump really can’t fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself. He just thinks that anyone who does anything when there is no direct personal gain is a sucker. He cannot imagine anyone else’s pain.”

Jessica Shepherd volunteers with the Homer Food Pantry, where she helps distribute food to more than 170 community members and families every week. She said the food pantry serves a wide variety of people within the community, including young adults leaving home for the first time, new employees in town waiting for their first paycheck, single working mothers and disabled veterans.

Shepherd said their numbers also indicate a growing percentage of senior citizens on fixed incomes who can’t stretch the dollar far enough, with tariffs and inflation continuing to increase the price of goods. She said one older, disabled man she works with through the food pantry only has $200 of his Social Security payment left every month after just paying his rent. The remainder he uses for laundry and taxi fare.

Shepherd said it doesn’t take much to help your hungry neighbors, if you can.

“Pick a favorite pantry item — bananas, peanut butter — and donate some each week,” she said. “Gift a percentage of the salmon or moose that you put in the freezer. Plant a row of broccoli or a bed of potatoes in your garden and donate those when you harvest.”

Artist Cindy McKenna performed a song she wrote on the guitar entitled “It’s My Flag Too.” She said the song was dedicated to her father and “those who believe in democracy and equal rights for all people.” Volunteers passed out printed sheets of the lyrics and the group joined briefly in song.

“It’s been many years since my father died,” McKenna sang. “When I see those flags I have tears of pride. And I realize one thing that matters. We were all once immigrants’ sons and daughters.”

In Soldotna, concurrently, about 34 people attended a “Unite for Veterans & America Rally.”

Michele Vasquez with the local Many Voices coalition said in an email to the Peninsula Clarion on Friday that several veterans were in attendance, including two Vietnam veterans, who saw combat.

Vasquez said that both Vietnam veterans were there on Friday because they “wanted to protest fascism.”