In our history today, it is easy to think events from 100 years ago have little bearing on us today. However, as you begin to explore WWI, it quickly becomes obvious that is not the case. We say WWI defined us as a country in both a positive and negative way. It was through WWI our medical profession changed. It was through the loss of veterans in World War I that triage and emergency rooms in hospitals were developed though Dr. Lepage and the Red Cross hospital. Nurses from Lanark County brought that knowledge from Belgium to Canada and helped change our country. It was through WWI we first learned about the mental health challenges trauma can create and so the first Canadian peer support group was created, the Royal Canadian Legion. It was through the advocacy of our WWI veterans that social services and fair employment practices were developed in Canada. It was due to our WWI veterans advocating for our WWII veterans that the playing of our National Anthem in schools and at sporting events became a North American tradition. However, the cost of WWI is almost incalculable. 1 out of 4 men ages 18-40 in Merrickville served in WWI. 1 out of 3 young adult age 18-35 died of the Spanish Influenza at the same time. The Spanish Influenza had never been introduced to North America and for the first time in our history, people coming from Europe were not quarantined. The Spanish Flu was unique because unlike traditional influenza, it was not the babies and elderly who were most vulnerable. The young adult was the most vulnerable. At the outbreak of WWI, the population difference between the United States and Canada was 3 to 1. Due to our heavy involvement and the U.S. light involvement, the United States did not lose their 18-35 population like we did. Today, because in part of that lost generation, our population difference is now 10 to 1. We see this in Merrickville. General Store owner William and his brother Hugh Knowles, Lt. Claude Watchorn, grandson of Samuel Jakes and Justice RW Watchorn, Brothers Richard and William Watt, Roy Telford, co-owner of Telford Garments, Lt. Stanley Tallman, son of Merchant Esley Tallman, and Sgt. William Baker of Easton's Corners. When you lose this type of leadership with the other 20 men, it will influence the community's future. So one hundred years later, let us carry our WWI voices forward and be thankful for the freedom and wonderful country we have today.