Military funeral for Capt. Thomas McQueen in Hamilton Wednesday
A military funeral for Canadian Forces pilot, Capt. Thomas McQueen will be held in Hamilton Wednesday.
The public is welcome at the ceremony, to be held at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton's John. C Munro Airport.
"We're planning for a large crowd because he was well-known in the local community and he was active at the museum," said Dave Rohrer, president and CEO of the museum.
He says the venue accommodates about 1,600 people but he's anticipating it might even be a bigger turnout.
McQueen, a native of nearby Fisherville, was killed in last Monday's fatal fighter jet crash near Cold Lake, Alta.
The service for the 10-year flying veteran, will begin at 11 a.m. and is expected to last an hour and a half. Four CF-18 Hornets from 3 Wing Bagotville, Que. will perform a flyby during the service.
"I think it will be quite a moving ceremony and salute to a talented young man," Rohrer said.
Afterward, McQueen's body will travel down Highway 401 to connect with the Highway of Heroes, before arriving at the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.
Rohrer told CBC News that the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, MP Diane Finley and members of the Canadian Air Force will be in attendance.
The 29-year-old was born and grew up in Fisherville, Ont., a small hamlet outside Hamilton, but lived in Cold Lake, Alta., three hours north of Edmonton with his fiance. A memorial for McQueen was held last weekend in Fishervillle, Ont. where his parents still live.
Canadian flags will be at half-mast Wednesday throughout the city for the military funeral.
