Israel’s Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism was commemorated on Wednesday around the country with official ceremonies.
This year, in contrast to last year, when health restrictions due to the coronavirus barred families from gathering at military cemeteries, this year bereaved families are permitted to visit to cemeteries.
As every year, a centerpiece of the observance of Memorial Day is a two-minute siren at 11 A.M., when the country comes to a halt to honor the memory of the fallen and to mark the start of the official ceremonies at 52 military cemeteries and memorial sites around Israel.
Since Memorial Day last year, 43 new names were added to the list of the fallen, along with another 69 disabled veterans who died for reasons connected to their injuries and were recognized this past year as having fallen in Israel’s wars.
At 1 P.M. a second official ceremony was held in memory of the victims of terrorism and hostile action on Mount Herzl.
The names of the fallen in all of Israel’s wars are also broadcast continuously through the entire day on channel 26 of Partner, Yes and Hot, as well as on the Izkor channel of Cellcom TV and Idan Plus.
The Defense Ministry’s Yizkor memorial website lets mourners light a memorial candle – either a general one for all the fallen or a personal one for a specific soldier, Haaretz reported.
