Some people felt both honour and anger this Remembrance Day, with the pending closures of nine Veterans Affairs offices across the country.
Second World War veteran William Bennett says marking Remembrance Day felt a bit different this year, as the Veterans Affairs office in Sydney is set to close.
“It’s harder than it was. It’s harder,” says Bennett, who attended a Remembrance Day service in Whitney Pier, N.S. “It wouldn’t be right for them to take it away, I know that.”
On Saturday, more than 3,000 people rallied in downtown Sydney to save their local Veterans Affairs office.
Now, their cries to the federal government are being echoed by Mayor Cecil Clarke.
“Sometimes, what looks good in the boardroom and on paper is not realistic when it comes down to the needs of our veterans,” says Clarke. “I would appeal to the Government of Canada to reevaluate their decision.”
Emotions ranged from frustration to anger among those who paid tribute to veterans on Monday.
“Some of them have given their lives just to keep their country free, to keep their families free, and to shut down a building that helps support these people is absolutely atrocious,” says Jonathan Wells.
“We’d like to see it stay open, but then again, we’re going up against the government,” says veteran Richard Wall.
Clarke says he has appealed to MP Peter MacKay about the caseloads handled at the Sydney office.
“Governments do change their minds,” says Clarke. “Based on the case, I think if we talk about the needs of our veterans, then the people that support them should be protected as well.”
The office is scheduled to close at the end of February.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald
