A Righteous Among the Nations was honored yesterday in Saint-Palais: a square was named after one of its inhabitants, Jacqueline Bidegorry, a woman who hid and saved Jewish families during the Second World War, in Poitiers, when she was 16 years old. One year to the day after receiving the medal from the city of Saint-Palais, it is therefore a new honor given to him on his 98th birthday, surrounded by all her family and loved ones. A moving day for the one who has long silenced the act of courage and heroism she showed as a teenager.
Even after reading a letter from Jerusalem, Jacqueline remains as modest and discreet as it has always been : “Dearest Jacqueline Bidegorry”reads the mayor of Saint-Palais, “on behalf of the children of Alphonse Cerf and in memory of our grandparents, all saved thanks to you, we thank you for all you have done and recognize your heroism.” “It gives me immense pleasure that they still think of me”, she is almost surprised, as two of her great-grandchildren unveil the plaque in her name.
Even at this moment, it’s up to the other heroes and heroines left in the shadows what she thinks. “I’m sure I’m not the only one. Sure and certain. I wish we could honor these people.” Just as much as the date of the inauguration, the day of his 98th birthday, the place chosen is also symbolic, explains the mayor of Saint-Palais, Charles Masson: “It’s a place where the city has been planting trees for all the births of babies for two years. Jacqueline Bidegorry saved Jewish children during the war: she is now in a place in the middle of the forest of babies.”
And if all of Jacqueline’s family is overflowing with pride, the tribute has an even more special flavor for Ainhoa, soon to be thirteen : “We don’t necessarily recognize what women do and we often put them aside. The fact that my great-grandmother did something like that too, it makes me even more proud, even more happy.”
A first for the Bask’elles “Women’s Place” project
Words that should sound like a victory for the representatives of the Bask’elles, present yesterday. This inauguration of Square Jacqueline Bidegorry is the first realization of their “Women’s Place” project, whose objective is to feminize the names of places in the municipalities of the agglomeration. “She is a discreet heroine, she is part of this generation of women and men who have not necessarily said everything they have done”testifies Michaella Clapisson, spokesperson for the association. “We try to get the whole territory to adhere to our approach.
We would like to achieve the production of a book of a hundred biographies which would allow the municipalities to have a collection with the biographies of women to be honored – Michaella Clapisson, spokesperson for the Bask’elles
According to the association, the cities of Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz should soon inaugurate two lanes responding to this “Women’s Square” approach.