“A la mémoire des enfants et de leurs familles.” The inscription, etched onto a plaque, stands before us, a stark reminder of a dark period in history. The plaque, commemorating the children who fell victim to the horrors of the Holocaust, is a somber addition to the facade of the school at 22 rue de l’Ave-Maria in the IVe arrondissement. It speaks of the 11 400 Jewish children deported from France, their lives tragically cut short in the Nazi concentration camps. It was this very school, like many others across Paris, where these young lives once thrived, their laughter echoing in the hallways now filled with a haunting silence. Though the original plaque was sadly ripped from its place, the city of Paris quickly replaced it. This gesture, a testament to the unwavering commitment to remembering and honoring those lost, stands as a beacon of hope and resilience.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.