Editorial: San Diego’s Greatest Generation in Normandy for 70th anniversary of D-Day
By Rep. Susan A. Davis (D-CA53)
On June 6, I had the honor of attending the 70th anniversary of the D-day invasion in France. What a humbling experience it was to be there. Countless graves marked the landscape where over 155,000 Allied soldiers fought and more than 6,000 died at the site of one of the most significant military operations in modern history.
In commemorating this longest day of war on June 6, 1944, we observed a day full of gratitude to those who sacrificed and those who bear witness that day, to say “thank you.”
As part of our bipartisan official congressional delegation, it meant so much to me to represent San Diego as we paid tribute. I was also there as the daughter of a World War II veteran.
Looking back, it is incredible — incredible that an operation as vast and as complex as the Allied invasion of Normandy could ever succeed.
Operation Overlord, as it was named, was the largest seaborne invasion in history with 155,000 troops, 5,000 vessels, and 30,000 vehicles crossing the English Channel in rough seas to hit the beaches of Normandy just after dawn. The five beaches where the Allies landed were code named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
In retrospect, the invasion has come to be seen as a marvel of planning, coordination, engineering feats, a healthy dose of courage and a commitment to stopping the spread of tyranny.
Our troops faced setbacks at every turn. Yet against all odds, our brave young men persevered. It is absolutely impossible to fathom what they experienced on those beaches that day.
I asked one how he was able to survive that day.
He said, “I have no idea.”
At the start of the day on the 70th Anniversary, a memorial ceremony honoring American veterans was held at the Normandy American Cemetery (NAC) at Omaha Beach. More than 93,000 American war dead from WW II are interred at NAC.
President Barack Obama and President François Hollande of France hosted the gathering of dignitaries from around the globe. Among them were more than 80 American WW II veterans, five being from our area who traveled more than five thousand miles back to the spot where they risked their lives.
Speaking with D-day veterans from San Diego like Jack Port, Joe Reilly, Victor Kramer and James Federhart, I was reminded that they were just kids in 1944, many of them still teenagers. It has been said that they went to war as boys and came back heroes.
An international ceremony followed in the afternoon at Sword Beach with President Obama and Allied heads of state. President Hollande in his remarks quoted President Eisenhower, who, as a four-star general, commanded the invasion of Normandy: “Americans were not sure what they were fighting for in Europe, but in liberating the concentration camps they knew what they were fighting against.”
I wish I could have learned more from my dad about his experiences. Captain George Alpert served as an Army medic throughout the war. In Europe, mostly in Italy, he saw a lot in that theater. But like so many of his brothers in arms, he did not speak about the war, and it is not hard to imagine why.
Many of their comrades never made it home. Thousands of U.S. soldiers fought and died, so that the world might live in freedom and inherit peace.
While the numbers of WW II veterans who return to Normandy on these anniversaries dwindle with each passing year, our gratitude and appreciation for what they did for us — for what they did for the world — will never diminish.
—Congresswoman Davis represents the 53rd Congressional District, which includes La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and parts of San Diego, El Cajon, and Chula Vista. She is senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, serving as the Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee. She also serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Follow @RepSusanDavis on twitter.
Bike vs. auto: the same, but different
By Joshua Bonnici
San Diego is practically the perfect place to commute via two wheels: The weather is always fantastic, parking is often difficult, gas prices are among the nation’s highest and our public transportation leaves a lot to be desired. So, more and more San Diegans have been dusting off their Schwinns and taking their daily commutes to the street.
But what happens when you transition to the two-wheeled commute? For many cyclists, the daily norm is a commute filled with blaring horns, a string of expletives, aggressive driving maneuvers and clearly inappropriate road rage. And while it is understandable that drivers may be frustrated by having to share the road with more cyclists, their frustration doesn’t make it safer to be on the road. Knowing your rights does.
Just like Kindergarten, safety on the roads is all about sharing and equality. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that the California Vehicle Code (CVC) allows for a cyclist to have the same rights on a roadway as their four wheeled, gas-guzzling counterparts. With that being said, there are a couple of important limitations unique to bike riders. The law requires that a cyclist stay as close to the right side of the street as “practicable” to allow for safe auto passage. However, if the cyclist channels their inner Tour de France racer and can maintain the same speed as the nearby auto traffic — within the posted speed limit, of course — then the rider may choose to ride closer to the center of the lane. And when the road carries traffic only in just one direction —like many of the streets downtown — the rider may choose either the left or right side of the street to ride on, as long they stay close to the curb.
That covers the roadway, but what about the sidewalk? While the curbed and segregated sidewalks seem like a safer alternative then riding in the gutter, riding on the sidewalk is actually prohibited by law in most local San Diego cities. Sidewalks are for pedestrians, wheel chairs and other slower modes of traffic. A weaving, darting bicycle on a crowded sidewalk can pose a danger to pedestrians and cyclists alike (if you’ve ever braved the boardwalks in Mission Beach, you’ll understand).
So you have every right to ride in the road, and you need to stay off the sidewalk, but what other laws apply to cyclists? You might be surprised to learn that DUI law applies! We’ve all been there before: brainstorming on the best way to the bar. “Let’s ride to the bar so we don’t have to worry about driving drunk afterwards.” Bars, restaurants and the ever-growing brewery population have created a network of great little San Diego communities (North Park, Hillcrest and Pacific Beach, I’m looking at you). Local watering holes and eateries within pedaling distance seem too good to be true. However, riding your trusty two-wheeled steed home after a drinking escapade can get you in nearly as much trouble as if you got behind the wheel.
“It goes against common sense, but yes, you can get convicted of bicycling while under the influence,” says attorney Eric Ganci of Galente Ganci, APC. Eric’s practice focuses primarily on DUI defense, and he’s seen it all. “Yes, it is a misdemeanor on your criminal record, and yes, if you are under 21, the DMV will suspend your license for one year.”
But is a bicycle DUI handled the same way? No.
“What’s interesting is there is no legal limit for a bicycle DUI.” Eric continues, “with driving a vehicle, usually the legal limit is a .08 blood alcohol level. With bicycling, there is no specific BAC. So you can legally get a bicycle DUI well below a .08 BAC.”
How do you avoid this legal debacle? Buy a legitimate bike lock or cable, cinch your single-speed down to a meter and call a cab for a ride after drinking. Or call Uber. Or Lyft. Or your mother.
So the next time you’re flying around on your fixie, trekking through town on your tri-bike or caching rays on your cruiser, know the rules of the road. Cycling is a fantastic way to get around town and keep in shape, but there’s no need to donate any more money in the way of fines to the City of San Diego, or take an involuntary tour of our jail system. Ride safe. Know the rules. And have fun!
— Joshua Bonnici is a native San Diegan and avid mountain biker. He is also the managing attorney at Bonnici Law Group, APC, where he helps individuals injured in bicycle and car accidents protect their rights and obtain fair compensation. Have a question for him, or want to share your favorite riding trail in San Diego? Feel free to contact him: 619-259-5199, or bonnicilawgroup.com.