Joseph José Martinez

LADEPECHE.fr
Published on 08/14/2016 at 03 :53, updated at 10:04

Dominique Chenet, née Martinez

"The Yad Vashem Jerusalem Institute has just awarded your parents, Joseph José and Victoria Maria Martinez, the title of Righteous Among the Nations, for having helped, at their own risk and peril, Jews hunted down during the occupation". Dominique Chenet, née Martinez, holds the letter. Her hands are shaking. She is overcome by great emotion. Her deceased parents receive through this title an important tribute. It is the recognition of acts of bravery that the couple carried out during the war of 39/45, saving among others Lucie Waitter, Jewish, the aunt of Dominique, still alive, in Paris. Dominique remembers: “It was the war, I was little but images remained, we lived in the suburb of Bensa, dad hid all the family of aunt, who lived in front of the gendarmerie, by bringing them to the house, under a blanket on a cart, he took huge risks, but he succeeded with mom. Joseph Martinez was 18 when he arrived in France, Victoria was 14. "Dad worked in textiles, in Bensa, then at Roudière, mum everywhere, she also learned to knit and crochet, she was above all a mum, they were loved by everyone".
Of Joseph, known as "Pépé", the "yellow and black" rugby players are still talking about it. He was the flag bearer of the Lavalanetian Stadium for many years. When he died in June 1994, in the tribute paid to him by our newspaper, we could read: ""Pépé", he was the stadium's No. 1 supporter, he was always dressed in yellow and black, and followed players wherever they go. “Pépé” was also the man of the hamper”.

A medal and a diploma of honor will be established in their names, forever engraved on the wall of honor, in the garden of the Righteous among the Nations, at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem.

The French committee for Yad Vashem contacted Dominique Chenet-Martinez, to organize a ceremony in honor of her parents in a place of her choice, so that she could be awarded the medal and the diploma.