Prince Rupert's Les Palmer to be part of Queen's funeral procession on Monday

There may be more than a few Prince Rupert and area residents taking for an early rising on Monday morning, turning on their televisions at 2AM as what will likely be one of the most watched television events in history passes by.

Monday morning marks the funeral procession for Queen Elizabeth II, with world leaders assembled in the London for the occasion and a global audience anticipated for her final travels through the streets of the British capital.

The longest reigning monarch in the United Kingdom and a Queen that has spanned the life of most Canadians, will be laid to final rest after what has been ten days of mourning not only in the UK but in many corners of the world.

As the funeral procession images come across your television, keep a sharp eye out for the Procession of Recipients of National Honours and for a familiar Prince Rupert face to join in with those paying their respects upon the Queen's passing.

Last week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the list of those that make up the Canadian delegation and among the many joining the Prime Minister in London is life long Prince Rupert resident Leslie Arthur Palmer, selected for the delegation as a recipient of the Cross of Valour.

Mr. Palmers story one of remarkable courage coming out of a December 2004 North Coast rescue, where as a member of the Crew of the Coast Guard vessel Point Henry and responding to a vessel in distress,  he took extraordinary measures to save the lives  of those onboard the boat locating them on the shores of Grenville Channel near Prince Rupert. 

First Officer Les Palmer then of the Canadian Coast
Guard in 2006 receiving his Cross of Valour
from Governor General Michaëlle Jean
(Photo from Shorelines magazine)

For his lifesaving work in those challenging and dangerous conditions Mr. Palmer was awarded the Cross of Valour by Governor General Michaëlle Jean in May of 2006.

At the time he was only the 20th recipient of the honour in Canadian history.

In 2007, the City of Prince Rupert honoured him and at his request, the entire crew of the Point Henry for their rescue.

The Coast Guard publication Shorelines provides a detailed review from 2006 of the rescue work he took on showcasing the definition of courage that is the benchmark for the Cross of Valour award.

Accounts of his rescue work also appeared in Canadian Geographic and  The Nauticapedia to name a few. Mr. Palmer continued to serve with the Coast Guard until 2012 and his retirement after a 29 year career on the waters of the North Coast. 

The Funeral for Queen Elizabeth will start at 2AM Prince Rupert time on Monday, it will be broadcast by all of Canada's major television networks, where at some point we suspect more notes of Mr. Palmer's rescue will be shared with audiences far beyond Prince Rupert.

For a review of all of our notes on the Passing of the Queen and how Prince Rupert has observed the last ten days see our page here.