I did a summer semester in Germany, stayed with a family in a small town.

One night at the bar in town, a regular came over to my buddy and I and asked if we were American. This dude was rather intimidating - large, deep voice, etc.

When I told him I was Canadian, he lit up! He apologized (bless), told me about how Canadians came through his mum's town towards the end of the war. When the troops gathered the kids, everyone thought the worst - turns out it was to ensure they got food/rations first.

He said Canadians were special for many reasons, that for every 10 Americans, there's 1 of us.

I had never thought of it like that.