Remembering Thomas Settee; an ordinary saint

Settee lived much of his life in Prince Albert. As a man he was enlisted in the militia and joined the North Saskatchewan Regiment. When the Second World War began he was sent to protect Camp Dundurn and joined the Regina Rifle Regiment. From there he was deployed overseas to Scotland to train for several years.

Settee was among many of the courageous soldiers who ran up Juno beach on June 6, 1944—the day the world recognizes as D-Day. He fought 33 days until he was injured from mortar fire while fighting for the City of Caen.

He was sent back to England to recover, after which, he helped transport German soldiers to New York City.

Settee was also known for his boxing skills, winning the Canadian Army Boxing Championship in the Welterweight Division in 1944 and the Western Canadian Welterweight and Middleweight titles later on.

However, he is described a gentle and kind man with creative skills like painting and model building.
As a Prince Albert barber, many locals reminisced about getting their first haircut from him and receiving warm embraces as they passed him around town.

It was these endearing qualities that brought people from all walks of life together today.

The ceremony

The crowd was varied with fellow comrades, police, firemen, RCMP, friends, and family, many brandishing red poppies in tribute to Settee.

Reverend Sandy Scott led the ceremony regaling with thoughts and words of comfort. Scott described Settee as an “ordinary saint”. A man who demonstrated what we, as a community, can be.

He said Settee was a man who was always committed to being the best; a loving man despite all his own personal hardships.

His son and niece described him as always telling stories from the past—good or bad, and there were some definite bad times. From war, to reservation schools, to times of extreme hardships, he was said to always be counted on as a citizen who “loved amidst challenges” no matter what came.

Atop his casket lay a red velvet pillow with the five medals he had earned in his lifetime and hanging above draped a large bold Canadian flag.

As the funeral ceremony came to a close each comrade and honoured group who wore poppies lined up to ritualistically pin their poppy upon Settee’s pillow.

Some saluted, some touched the casket, and some simply bowed their head in final farewell.

The procession ended with the classic bugle horn followed by a tunnel of service men and women giving salute in honour of Thomas Settee as his casket passed through the building.

The music heard in the background could not have been more fitting with its words.

“Carry me home down the highway of heroes.”

sstone@panow.com

by Sarah Stone

Remembering Thomas Settee; an ordinary saint

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