Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

Ambassador Jacobson accepts the loan of a mortar from the War of 1812 during a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum.

Today, Ambassador Jacobson gratefully accepted the loan of an 1812 mortar during a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum. The loan from the museum is part of the ongoing commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

The 90 kg brass mortar, which will be on display at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, was made in Britain in 1807 and bears the royal cipher of King George III. It originally formed part of the defenses of Halifax, Nova Scotia during the war.

In his acceptance remarks Ambassador Jacobson highlighted an important lesson of 1812, one of peace. As he pointed out, "Two hundred years ago, Americans and Canadians were fighting each other. Killing each other. Today, no two countries on earth have a closer or a stronger relationship. That transformation from mortal enemies to the closest of friends is a ray of hope to people in troubled regions elsewhere in the world. A message that conflict is not eternal."

The United States government will soon be making its own gesture of friendship to Ambassador Doer in Washington DC.