The grave of British Major General Robert Ross in Halifax, Nova Scotia, drew visitors on Monday, marking the 211th anniversary of the burning of the White House. Ross led British troops in the attack on Washington, D.C., on August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812, in retaliation for the American assault on Fort York, now part of Toronto.

Larry and Connie Tremain from Arizona visited the Old Burying Ground, located at the intersection of Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street. "We’ve been looking for him," said Larry Tremain, a retired special agent with the U.S. Treasury Department. Although he was unsure of Ross's burial site until Monday, he was familiar with the historical event. "I’m certainly familiar with the Madisons fleeing the White House and the British general burned it down and actually ate the Madison’s last meal in the White House," he noted.

Ross, who was killed by an American sniper at the Battle of North Point on September 12, 1814, was buried in Halifax with full military honors. His body was preserved in rum aboard the HMS Royal Oak, which was diverted to Halifax before returning to Ireland.

The Tremains expressed concern that many Americans are unaware of Ross's role in history. "Absolutely not," Larry Tremain said. "Most Americans now under the age of 20 don’t know the difference between George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, let alone the history of the War of 1812." He also commented on the current U.S.-Canada relations, mentioning President Donald Trump's remarks about Canada. "He has no understanding, and we are bumbling through," Tremain said, adding that Trump’s supporters focus on "America first" nationalism.

Jo-Ann Heikkila, who was visiting from Toronto, shared that many Americans are surprised to learn about Ross's actions. "I’ve got friends in the U.S. and when you raise that, they look at us like we have three heads," she said. Her friend, Jo-Anne Wilcox, emphasized the need for Americans to learn more about Canada. "They need to learn about our country. They know nothing about Canada," Wilcox stated.

Joe Blixt, a former history teacher from Winnipeg now studying law in Halifax, acknowledged that while he knew about the burning of the White House, he was unaware of Ross's burial site. "That’s really cool," he said. Blixt noted that many Americans likely do not know about Ross's exploits. "I feel like American exceptionalism makes them blind to all that stuff," he remarked.

The visitors' reflections highlight a broader conversation about historical awareness and the importance of understanding shared histories, especially in light of current geopolitical tensions.