I had a similar experience in Paris and Oxford England when visiting a friend in the early 80's.  We had beer bought for us from WW2 veterans in both of these cities in small pubs.  People always want to know where tourists are from and often assume you are American or sometimes Australian.  When we told them we were Canadian we were invited to sit with them and they immediately insisted on buying us a drink.  Very touching and humbling experience when the vets told us how much it meant to them when Canada took part and sacrificed so much in both world wars.