Every student, at some point in time, has to learn about the Thirty Years' War, a battle that consumed much of central Europe from 1618 to 1648. The war ended with the Peace of Westphalia treaty, which was signed in 1648. However, at the time, no representatives from the republic of San Marino, which is in Italy, attended the treaty conference. So officially, until just a few years ago, the republic of San Marino has been at war with Sweden, its most bitter enemy at the time. Finally, in 1996, as a symbolic gesture, representatives from San Marino signed the peace treaty--348 years after the war ended. (1)

There's a story that fits under the heading "Better Late Than Never." Can you imagine being at war for over 348 years? No shots were fired in those three centuries and no hostages were …