June 6 (UPI) -- Several thousand veterans converged on the National Mall on Friday at a rally among 200 events nationwide against a proposed overhaul that includes staffing reduction and some services shifted.

The Veterans Administration counters the new proposed budget is higher than last year, processing of claims have sped up and it's easier to get benefits.

Veterans, military families and others participated in the Unite for Veterans, Unite for America Rally on the 81st anniversary of D-Day, which was the Allies' amphibious invasion of German-occupied France.

The protests, which were organized by a union, took place at 16 state capitol buildings and more than 100 other places across 43 states.

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