Just thought you might be interested in this....
It was after we attended the 2007 Pont Laveyrat Memorial service that I wrote the attached article. We were astonished that on a cold Friday afternoon in February that nearly 500 people would assemble in a remote part of Beyssenac to remember the occasion of the massacre of many young people from the communes of Lanouaille, Beyssenac, Payzac etc. Later many made their way to Payzac and Savignac Ledrier for further small commemorations. Some 40 banners of the resistance were paraded and most mayors of the surrounding communes were present. This occasion is an important symbol of the wish of local communities to never see or hear of such an atrocity again. Those of us who have now made our homes here can stand alongside those whose families were touched by the massacre, offering our support for the same ends.
The mill has now been acquired by the local communes and work will start on turning it into a museum of the resistance, with the avenue along the river between the Pont and the Mill becoming a memorial walk with educational panels concerning the resistance activities.
The service takes place at the impressive Memorial by the mill. There is a turning on the right hand side of the road from Pompadour to Payzac, just after Pissac, which leads to the Pont. Many will park at the Pont Laveyrat where fields have been made available and walk to the Memorial, about 600m. If you wish to attend do remember to wrap up warm and have good shoes in case it is wet and cold…
This year, as ever, the date is the 16th February which is a Saturday and the service will begin at around 15:00 hrs in the afternoon. It is best to arrive at about 14.30 hrs to make sure that you can park and also walk to the Memorial area. Following this ceremony it moves on to Payzac Cemetery and thence to the Mairie at Savignac Ledrier. A reception will take place later in the Salle Polyvalente of Savignac Ledrier, behind the Mairie.
Please pass this around to others that you know, and of course everyone is welcome to attend if they wish.
Neil & Sue Spoonley
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