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Israel
Memorial Day
( Yom HaZikaron)
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Israel's Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron), is celebrated the day
before Israel's Independence Day. It is dedicated to the memory
of those who have given their lives to the State of Israel.
Ceremonies are held throughout the country at schools, cemeteries
and memorial sites.
This solemn day is celebrated on the 4th day of Iyar; it begins
at sunset and concludes the following evening.
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A one-minute siren is blown on the eve of the Memorial
Day and a two-minute siren is blown on the morning of
the Memorial Day. Throughout the siren, the complete
country comes to a standstill. The public stops working,
children stop playing, and the drivers stop driving.
Each person stands at thought in silence as the siren
wails in memory of the fallen. It is a very emotional
and difficult day in Israel as this small country remembers
the many young soldiers who have given their lives so
the Jewish State could exist
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There
number of fallen since November 29, 1947 - to June, 2000 is
19,109 and prior to that date is 1,594. The total number of
fallen since 1860 is 20,703 including IDF personnel who died
of their wounds.
The total population of bereaved families is 17,812, as follows:
3,344 widows, 4,474 bereaved single parents and 3,882 bereaved
couples (7,764 individuals), 2,230 orphans, plus 81,879 disabled
IDF veterans with a 0-100% handicap.
There are 42 military cemeteries around the country. A special
ceremony is held in Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem
for the over 1,000 fallen policemen and Border Guard soldiers.
This
Wall of Names is located at the Latrun Museum.
It contains the names of all the soldiers in the IDF's Tank
Divisions who have fallen in Israel's wars.
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