Recently we were given a tour of a cemetery on Osoyoos Indian Band land – this is a very old burial site that contains a lot of history and memories.

(Inkameep Native Reserve (St. Gregory Mission) – near Oliver (Osoyoos Indian Band)

There are two sites where members of the armed forces are buried and one memorial for a man buried in Italy.

Cpl. Ernie Baptiste (Batiste) George was killed in action in Italy in 1944. He was attached to the Canadian Infantry Corps (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish). He died 12 days before Christmas as the allies invaded North Italy. He was 26 years old.

Memorial Plaque at St. Gregory Mission Church – OIB Oliver BC. He is the son of Chief Narcisse George and Victoria George. He is buried and honoured at the Villanova Canadian war memorial in Italy. ( The memorial site is north of San Marino )

Another veteran of WW2 was Everett F. (Mickey) Allen. Born December 2, 1919 and died February 10, 1978 at the age of 58. Mr. Allen is buried in the OIB cemetary. A third veteran, Mario Dean Grey-George served with the American forces – PFC George was in the US Marine Corps. Born March 9, 1954. He died in August 16, 2008 at the age of 54.

Lest we forget.

reference Veterans Canada: In Villanova Canadian War Cemetery, 206 of the 212 graves belong to Canadians. This cemetery has been described as a memorial to the fallen of the 5th division as 85 members of two battalions of this division are buried here.