SAR Technician Funeral to Be Held in Comox Valley

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 25, 2015) - 19 Wing Comox -Royal Canadian Air Force

A private military funeral will be held for Sergeant Mark Salesse at 19 Wing Comox, Saturday, 28 February at 2:00 p.m. Members of the public interested in paying their respects are invited to line the route of the funeral procession from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday prior to the service. The funeral ceremony itself is exclusive to friends and family.

Quick Facts

• Sgt Salesse, 44, a native of Bathurst, NB., and member of 435 Transport and Rescue (T&R) Squadron, 17 Wing Winnipeg died during a military ice-climbing training exercise in Banff National Park Alberta.

• The Winnipeg-based Search and Rescue (SAR) Technician was recovered from under 2.7 meters of snow by Parks Canada, six days after an avalanche swept Salesse 60 meters off a narrow cliff at the Polar Circus. The three other SAR technicians of 435 T&R Squadron on the training exercise were not impacted by the avalanche.

• A funeral procession will escort the casket of Sgt Salesse from the Comox Valley Funeral Home to 19 Wing Comox from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday just prior to the service.

• A Guard of Honour and a military fly-past of a SAR aircraft will be included in the private service, to be held at 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron.

• Visitation will be held at the Comox Valley Funeral Home, 1101 Ryan Rd., Courtenay, on Friday from 3:00 p.m.to 6:00 p.m. for members of the public associated with the family and/or Sgt Salesse's military and civilian affiliations.

Quotes

"A small cadre of representatives from Mark's SAR community in Winnipeg will be here to show support and pay our respects alongside his family and close friends in the Comox Valley. This was a region near and dear to Mark, a place where his SAR career began and a place he would often call home."

- Colonel Joël Roy, Commander of 17 Wing Winnipeg

Related Links

For images and information regarding the career of Sgt Mark Salesse, visit the RCAF website at:
http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/article-template-standard.page?doc=sergeant-mark-salesse-a-brother-to-all/i5xz0jci