NATCHEZ — Months of preparation, a miles-long official escort and an afternoon of setup will culminate at noon today when the Miss-Lou Patriotic Tribute opens to the public at noon at the Natchez Convention Center.

The tribute includes a 360-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a memorial for those killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and a memorial for all servicemen who died in war, among other things.

The exhibit is free to view and will be open until 11 p.m. tonight. It will reopen from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.

The opening ceremonies will be at noon today. A flag retirement ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, and a Veterans Day program will be at 11 a.m. Sunday. All events are in or outside the convention center.