Mexico to hunt, find, and punish Pancho Villa (see Pancho Villa Expedition). Conservatory of Mérida The School of Music of the State of Yucatan was inaugurated November 30, 1911, in Mérida. Shortly thereafter, it was renamed Conservatorio de Mérida. Francisco Quevedo was its first director. Antonio de la Mora, one of the founding music professors, taught counterpoint and instrumentation. Canadian Expeditionary Force Before the United States entered World War I, the Canadian Expeditionary Force recruited Americans to fill ranks of the 97th Battalion, one of five American Legion battalions that had greatly deteriorated. The other four battalions were the 212th, the 211th, the 213th, and the 237th. April 10, 1916, de la Mora enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Windsor, and, on the same day received a medical examination. April 26, 1916, de la Mora was promoted to Sergeant in the 97th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, at Toronto, and was appointed Bandmaster. May 12, 1916, de la Mora was transferred to the 212th Battalion at Toronto May 19, 1916, de la Mora was promoted to Band Sergeant 212th and assigned to Winnipeg, where he served as Bandmaster. January 3, 1917, de la Mora received a Medical Discharge. Grand Forks, North Dakota De la Mora became a member of the Kem Shrine of Grand Forks. 1916–1917: Grand Forks, North Dakota, Professor de la Mora, Bandmaster of: The YMCA Boys Band Kem Temple Shriners Band Elks Saxophone Band East Grand Forks Band Meridian, Mississippi De la Mora resided in Meridian, Mississippi, for a few months during 1918. While there, he published his book, Cornetist Alphabet, and organized the Hamasa Temple Shrine Band. He remained in Meridian until about late-November-early-December when he married Susan May Stennis (maiden; 1899–1973) in Meridian and, with her, moved to New Orleans for his work as a musician. When he signed his World War I Draft Registration on September 12, 1818, he provided the name of his wife, Amanda de la Mora, and his address at 817 24th Avenue (between 8th and 9th Streets), Meridian, Mississippi, an address that corresponds to the site upon which the Hamasa Temple was built in 1924. The Meridian Shriners contracted the Saenger organization to design, build, and operate the auditorium in their building. The Saenger organization was the same organization that designed, built, owned, and operated the Strand in New Orleans, where de la Mora began working in 1918. Strand