OTTAWA, TODAY – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP), paid tribute to Lieutenant Annette “Nettie” MacDonald, a Second World War U.S. Army Nurse and proud Canadian from Williamstown, Ontario, as part of Women’s History Month in Canada.

Born on August 26, 1898, to John Kenneth (Gardenfield) MacDonald and Flora Margaret MacDonald, Lt. MacDonald was the eldest of nine children and assumed significant family responsibilities early in life. After her siblings reached maturity, she pursued nursing—first in Montreal, and later in New York City, where she continued her studies and cared for the infant future U.S. President George H. W. Bush. Her lifelong friendship with the Bush family endured for decades, with Vice President Bush affectionately addressing her as “Miss Mac.”

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lt. MacDonald enlisted in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Britain in 1943. She later served courageously across Belgium, Holland, and Germany during the Allied campaign in Western Europe. During the Battle of the Bulge, she and members of her unit were briefly taken prisoners of war by the German Army before being released. Lt. MacDonald was later assigned to the Pacific theatre but returned to the United States after Japan’s surrender—aboard the same ship her father had sailed home on after the First World War.

After the war, Lt. MacDonald completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing at New York University (1953–1954) and went on to serve in U.S. veterans’ hospitals, continuing her lifelong dedication to care and service. In 1968, she retired and returned to Williamstown, where she lived until her passing on June 14, 1996.

The tribute also reflected on Canada’s broader history of medical service and sacrifice, referencing the tragic loss of HMHS Llandovery Castle, torpedoed on June 27, 1918, during the First World War. The hospital ship’s sinking claimed 234 lives, including dedicated doctors, nurses, and medical personnel—an enduring reminder of the bravery of those who heal amid conflict. Their legacy continues through today’s doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals, whose compassion and commitment remain vital to the national wellbeing of Canadians.

Lt. MacDonald’s remarkable life exemplifies the courage, compassion, and resilience of women who broke barriers and shaped the course of history—both in uniform and in their communities. As Canada marks Women’s History Month, the MNCTP pays tribute to Lt. MacDonald and to all women whose service and sacrifice remain an enduring source of national pride and inspiration.