Veterans lay wreath to mark closure of Sydney veterans office

A standingroom only crowd of more than 200 people gathered at a Sydney, N.S.legion Saturday to mark the anniversary of theclosure of the local Veterans Affairs office.

The office is one of nine closed last year in a costcutting measure.

Veteran Vince Rigby told the crowd losing that oneonone help from his support worker has been devastating.

I've used the new system and Ive been put on hold for more than 20 minutes at a time and I was told if it's an emergency to call 911. I can't imagine going through this process with PTSD as a younger vet, he said.

Tom Kennedy,president of the Glace Bay Legion, says his phone has been ringing off the hook from veterans lookingfor help.

Im getting calls from people at home during the weekends, he said.

The group is vowing to make the office closures a campaign issue in the upcoming federal election.

A group of veterans, led by Rigby, later placed a wreath on the door of the closed office.