Last Saturday, I went to the unveiling of Orangeville's latest woodcarving, now

standing in front of the library on Broadway, which is appropriately titled, "The Storyteller".

It was carved by Jim Menken, of Mono, in honour of retired school teacher Marilyn Doekes, who taught at several schools in Orangeville for over 30 years and became known as the storyteller because of her passion for storytelling and having a gift to draw her audiences in.

I never knew Mrs. Doekes, even though I went to school in Orangeville. But after attending the unveiling and hearing her friends speak about her, I was certain that if I had had her as a teacher, she would have been a favourite.

The number of people who showed up for the event is evidence of her popularity. The sidewalk in front of the library at the corner of Mill Street and Broadway was very crowded as people joined to celebrate the woman who was and still is able to touch so many lives.

According to her friend Anne Richardson, this living celebration of her life is a poignant tribute to a life that made a difference as a school teacher, as a founding member of the Dufferin Circle of Storytellers and through her business, CATch a Story.

After the event, I began to contemplate how many people are able to leave their mark on the world, other than in the conscious memories of those they knew.

It isn't that many, particularly when you consider that there are currently over six billion people on earth. The problem with being remembered in someone's memory only is that it's easily forgotten, especially when the one remembering doesn't continue the legacy and make certain your name and story is retold.

Obviously, there are more lives forgotten than remembered.

Remembering the past and those who laid down their lives in service to their country has been a hallmark of the Royal Canadian Legion. The motto "Lest We Forget" is a statement about the importance of remembrance.

The federal government recently recognized this when members of parliament unanimously voted to offer a state funeral for the last Canadian veteran of World War One. (Of the more than 600,000 Canadians who fought in the First World War, only three remain, all well over the age of 100.

Even though I think it's crass to discuss funeral arrangements for the living, this state funeral won't just honour one man; it will symbolically represent all Canadians who served in the great "war to end all wars."

In a similar vein, two new books launched recently have chronicled the history of the Orangeville area and its pioneers. Orangeville, The Heart of Dufferin County, written by Wayne Townsend, and East Garafraxa: A History, coauthored by Steven Brown and Krista Taylor.

Both books are beautifully written, sharing the rich history of the area's forefathers and families. They offer a chance for their story to be told in a way that honours the contributions of those who helped settle two of the communities we now call home.

In the end, not everyone is going to have a tree carved in their honour, a state funeral or even a mention in a book, but I believe it's important to think about how your own life is going to be remembered and your story told.

Mrs. Doekes may no longer be able to entertain an audience with a story - she is suffering from a progressive debilitating disease, but I'd like to fast-forward about 100 years, to a time when everyone who physically knew her may no longer be here. Picture a young child entering the Orangeville library with his mother asking her about the carving the child noticed standing in front of the library.

The child's mother, after reading the etching left on a plaque will say, "That's Marilyn Doekes, the Storyteller."