Canada to honor soldiers slain in terrorist attack with a hero's send-off

Ruxandra Tibu places flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial, in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Canadians are mourning the loss of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, the army reservist who was shot dead as he stood guard before the Tomb of the Unknown soldier on Wednesday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Justin Tang) (The Associated Press)

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People gather around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial, in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Canadians are mourning the loss of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, the army reservist who was shot dead as he stood guard before the Tomb of the Unknown soldier on Wednesday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Justin Tang) (The Associated Press)

A woman places a stuffed dog at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial, in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. Canadians are mourning the loss of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, the army reservist who was shot dead as he stood guard before the Tomb of the Unknown soldier on Wednesday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Justin Tang) (The Associated Press)

OTTAWA, Ontario – The soldier shot dead by a gunman who then stormed Canada's seat of government is being given a hero's send-off, with a motorcade along the highway where the country honors its war dead.

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said the body of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo will return home Friday along Canada's "Highway of Heroes" — a stretch of road traveled by funeral convoys transporting fallen soldiers from the 2001 war in Afghanistan.

The 24-year-old reservist was shot to death on Wednesday while he was guarding Canada's national war memorial.

The gunman, 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, then ran into the Parliament building, where he was shot and killed by the sergeant-at-arms.