The below was printed in the Almaguin News on July 28, 2016: Almaguin News

Editor's Note: The following address was delivered by Jordan Watt, direct descendant of the settlers of the Watt Century Farm that now serves as a museum site for the Burk's Falls and District Historical Society.

"Welcome to today's ceremony and thank you for attending. I'm honored to be speaking with you today on our Heritage Day. We're here today to honor our service members and to remember the sacrifices they have made and the courage it takes to defend honor, duty and country.

We're here today to honor our heroes, to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you for their sacrifices. Thinking of the heroes who join us in this group today and those who are here only in spirit, a person can't help but feel very proud. We stand in the middle of veterans and the family and friends of those who have served.

Thank you for answering the call to duty.

The service members we honor today came from all walks of life, but they shared several important qualities. They had courage, pride, determination, and dedication to duty.

Thousands of Canadians have fought and died on battlefields here and overseas to defend our freedoms and way of life. Today our troops continue to make sacrifices, and even as we lose troops, more Canadians step forward to say, ready to serve. They follow in the footsteps of generations of fine Canadians.

We have awarded medals to many soldiers, added their names to monuments and named buildings for them, to honor them for their bravery. But nothing can ever replace the hole left behind by a fallen service member, and no number of medals and ribbons can comfort the ones left behind.

Today, we gather together to remember, to honor, and to pay gratitude to those who have served our country. Our gathering is just one small spark in the flame of pride that burns across Canada today and every day. It’s not a lot, but it is one small way we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom.

Thank you for attending today. God bless you and your families, God bless our troops and God bless Canada."

Source: http://www.northbaynipissing.com/news-story/6787322-from-today-s-generation-to-those-of-a-century-ago