WASHINGTON 鈥� The line was long through the courtyard of the Canadian embassy Sunday, where people wearing different colored Canadian maple leaves with CFL jerseys celebrated Canada Day.
The star of the show? The Stanley Cup. After all, it鈥檚 the most revered trophy in North American sports.
鈥淚t鈥檚 because of the age,鈥� said Peg Brandon, of Ottawa. She is living in the U.S. while her husband is stationed at the embassy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been around for how many years? Over 100.鈥�
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 neat because everybody鈥檚 names go on it,鈥� said her husband, Rich Williams. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 kind of personalized.鈥�
He also learned that some players have had their names emblazoned inside the cup.
鈥淵ou can only see it when you get up close,鈥� said Williams. 鈥淚t looks like the first team to win it and all their names 鈥� Everything is in the bottom of the bowl, and ‘presented by Lord Stanley,’ and the whole deal 鈥� You get to see it in person, you can get more detail.鈥�
Even the keeper of the Cup was thrilled to be celebrating Canada Day at the embassy.
Walt Neubrand is one of the select few who gets to travel with the Stanley Cup, ensuring it doesn鈥檛 get damaged as it tours around the world.
鈥淲hen my boss told me, 鈥楨h, you鈥檙e taking it to the embassy on Canada Day,鈥� I said, 鈥楢h, great,鈥�” said Neubrand. 鈥淭his is a neat experience I鈥檝e never had before.鈥�
鈥淚t kind of makes me feel like I鈥檓 at home away from home,” he said.
