Memorial Day in Israel for its fallen soldiers and citizens killed in terrorist attacks started an hour ago at sundown and will last until tomorrow's sundown. Following Memorial Day, Israel celebrates Independence Day.
Israel has a population of around 7 million. The Israeli Military is a conscript military, with men serving three years and women, two. Additionally, there is reserve duty until one reaches 50. Therefore, almost every person in Israel has a family member or knows someone who has passed away fighting for Israel, or was killed in a terrorist attack.
(I personally have both family and friends who have been killed in action, and just this past year, lost two members of my battalion.)
The entire country mourns together in an extremely unique fashion, something I've never seen anywhere else in the world.
There is a siren sounded across the country both in the evening and morning and the entire country freezes in their spot and takes a minute to reflect on those who have given their lives for the country. Literally, everything stops. It doesn't matter if you're driving on the highway, or shopping in the mall. (Here is an example: [ame]http://youtu.be/MvJwleLQEMI[/ame].)
Radio stations switch from playing music/news to playing memorial songs and news stations tell stories of the fallen soldiers.
There are hundreds of memorial ceremonies across the country and every fallen soldiers' grave is attended to by a soldier currently serving in the fallen soldiers' unit.
Tomorrow evening at sundown the flag will be raised from half-mast, and the independence day celebration will begin, after appreciating and remembering how much people gave for the sake of independence.
126 new names have been added to the list of Israel's fallen soldiers and terrorism victims in the past year. Israel has lost 22,993 loved ones since 1860.
Here's to remembering those who have given everything.
Israel has a population of around 7 million. The Israeli Military is a conscript military, with men serving three years and women, two. Additionally, there is reserve duty until one reaches 50. Therefore, almost every person in Israel has a family member or knows someone who has passed away fighting for Israel, or was killed in a terrorist attack.
(I personally have both family and friends who have been killed in action, and just this past year, lost two members of my battalion.)
The entire country mourns together in an extremely unique fashion, something I've never seen anywhere else in the world.
There is a siren sounded across the country both in the evening and morning and the entire country freezes in their spot and takes a minute to reflect on those who have given their lives for the country. Literally, everything stops. It doesn't matter if you're driving on the highway, or shopping in the mall. (Here is an example: [ame]http://youtu.be/MvJwleLQEMI[/ame].)
Radio stations switch from playing music/news to playing memorial songs and news stations tell stories of the fallen soldiers.
There are hundreds of memorial ceremonies across the country and every fallen soldiers' grave is attended to by a soldier currently serving in the fallen soldiers' unit.
Tomorrow evening at sundown the flag will be raised from half-mast, and the independence day celebration will begin, after appreciating and remembering how much people gave for the sake of independence.
126 new names have been added to the list of Israel's fallen soldiers and terrorism victims in the past year. Israel has lost 22,993 loved ones since 1860.
Here's to remembering those who have given everything.
Last edited:
