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| Nation remembers fallen heroes http://warthogterritory.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=5963 |
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| Author: | bigross86 [ 25 Apr 2004, 12:54 ] |
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Nation remembers fallen heroes When the nation bowed its head Sunday evening for Remembrance Day it marked the 20,196 servicemen and women who have fallen in defense of the state since November 1947. In the past year 184 members of the Israel Police, IDF, Border Police, Prisons Service, General Security Service, and other organizations were killed in the service of the state. Including all those who fell defending the Land of Israel since 1860, the number reaches 21,781. Remembrance Day officially began at 7:30 Sunday evening when President Moshe Katsav opened the memorial day at the Western Wall. Israel has fought wars in 1948-49, 1956, 1967, l969-70, 1973 and 1982, in addition to skirmishes with infiltrators and conflicts with Palestinians from 1987-93 and 2000 to the present. "Israel will continue to fight for its existence and at the same time extend a hand of peace, " President Moshe Katsav told the gathering. "We bow our heads and embrace you the bereaved families. Representatives of bereaved parents as well as IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon and OC Home Front Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh also attended. A one-minute siren wailed across the country at precisely 8 p.m. and citizens stopped in silent commemoration. In his speech, Ya'alon said Israelis "were still living by the sword," and that Israel's war for existence "had not yet ended." Turning to the families, Ya'alon said, "We embrace you tightly. We will watch over you, comfort and love you. The war for existence has not ended. The murderous terrorism that harms women and children has not ended. As commander in chief of the Israel Defense Forces, I promise you, we will not rest, we will not tire, and we will continue to fight until peace returns to the streets of Israel." The main Remembrance Day memorial will take place Monday at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery and be carried out simultaneously at 43 military cemeteries around the country. A two-minute siren will sound at 11 a.m. Monday. A ceremony will also take place at the memorial for fallen Beduin soldiers at the Hamovil junction in the Galilee. The Defense Ministry has made available additional buses and public transportation for people wishing to get to military cemeteries. Remembrance Day is to be marked officially by lighting memorial flames and placing wreaths on graves. The Defense Ministry has already placed a miniature Israeli flag on the graves of all the fallen soldiers in military cemeteries across the country. In addition to the flags, black memorial ribbons will also be placed on the graves. Remembrance Day was to have started Saturday night, but it was moved one day later recently in Israel to accommodate observant families so that Shabbat would not be desecrated. However, the original date was kept abroad, which created a bizarre and uncomfortable situation where communities in the Diaspora will be celebrating Independence Day while here in Israel the nation will still be mourning. ====================================================================== I am a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. This is my vow. I will fight. I will defend my country. I will do all in my power to ensure my country’s survival. I will fight. I will fight against all foes who wish to harm my country. I will fight. For all those who fell days before the forming of my country. I will fight. For all those who fell in the wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, 1969, 1973 and 1982 in the defense of my country. I will fight. For all those soldiers who fell fighting for my country. I will fight. For all those maimed and killed by terrorists and terror attacks. For all those who’s only sin was living in the country. I will fight. For my family, my friends, my neighbors, all others who find a home in my country. I will fight. So that every Jew, no matter who he may be, has a country. I am a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. This is my vow. Benyamin Yitzchak Gross "Retreat, hell! We just got here!"-Captain Lloyd Williams, 2nd Marine Division, Belleau Wood, France, WWI |
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