Nick Gerry, 9, was one of hundreds of schoolchildren taking in the Portraits of Honour mural at Red Deer College Friday.
The tour will spend two days parked at Red Deer College, open for public viewing from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Red Deer events include a ceremony at the College at 11 a.m. on Friday and a military parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, as well as a Highway of Heroes, featuring one Canadian flag posted for each of the fallen along College Boulevard.
Red Deer Kinsmen have also organized a private regimental dinner at the Black Knight Inn on Friday evening, featuring a speech by a living hero, General Rick Hillier (retired), former Chief of the Defence Staff.
Lacombe events kick off at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday at the Lacombe Memorial Cente with a military parade to the Lacombe Sport and Leisure Complex, where the mural will be on display. CF-18 fighter jets are due overhead at 1 p.m. to start the afternoon barbecue, which runs until 5 p.m. and includes a variety of entertainers.
The mural moves on to Calgary on Monday.
Details of the tour can be visited online at www.portraitsofhonour.com
— copyright Red Deer Advocate