The “Save our graves” operation, which is taking place this weekend, helps save the memory of the missing from oblivion.

This involves photographing old tombs, damaged by time or lack of maintenance. Archive Midi Libre

Abandoned graves, like here in Lespignan, are discovered and the memory of the deceased falls into oblivion. Archive Midi Libre

As part of the Spring of Cemeteries, the Généanet site is renewing its operation "Save our tombs", from May 24 to 26. The principle is simple: take photos of abandoned graves and publish them on the online genealogy site so that they do not fall into oblivion.

Behind simple first and last names which sometimes still survive on the pediments of abandoned tombs, forgotten and victims of time, hide lives, sometimes long, sometimes abruptly cut short. Joyful or laborious, sad, noisy, loving or sordid existences. Fates that are extraordinary, atypical or what we call ordinary. But all of them were important.

So that they do not end up in the common grave of oblivion, the online genealogy site, Généanet, is renewing its operation "Save our tombs", on the occasion of the Spring of Cemeteries, which takes place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 May (read below). The opportunity to meet Louise Le Goaëc, a convinced genealogist since 1991, based in Magalas and local correspondent of the site.

Getting to know the past

"I started collaborating with Généanet when it asked all its members, in 2010, if they were interested to prepare for the commemoration of the First World War. It was then a question of noting the monuments to the dead and the names which appeared there but above all of giving substance to these names of the disappeared". Louise then said to herself "that it would be a good way to get to know the past and the inhabitants of Magalas".

She then approaches the mayor to find out if she can access the civil status registers of the time (births and marriages can be communicated after 75 years since 2010 compared to 100 years previously )."And I started doing what every good genealogist does: I surveyed the cemeteries." At&nbsp ;Puissalicon, she notices on many very old tombs, a small white label saying that you had to come forward or the tomb would be taken back.

Photographic memory

"I said to myself that it was stupid that the tomb disappeared without us knowing who these people were and that any trace of them was there. rsquo;them flies away". She then takes photos of all these burials destined to limbo. "Many people must have done the same because it’it was shortly after that Operation Save Our Graves"< was launched. /em>. The decision is made and Louise Le Goaëc now has the entire Magalas cemetery in photographic memory.