Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day in Israel, a day when Israel stops to mourn her fallen soldiers.

Tomorrow is Independance Day in Israel.

Remembrance Day is to be marked officially by lighting memorial flames and placing wreaths on graves. The Defense Ministry has already placed a miniature flag on the graves of all the fallen soldiers in military cemeteries across the country. In addition, black memorial ribbons will also be placed on the graves. The nation bowed its head Tuesday evening as Remembrance Day began, mourning the 20,368 servicemen and women who have fallen in its defense since November 1947. Including all those who fell defending the Land of Israel since 1860, the number reaches 21,954. In the past year, 169 members of the police, IDF, Border Police, Prisons Service, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and other organizations have been killed in the service of the state.

President Moshe Katsav opened the ceremony at the wall.

"Tonight all the people of Israel are standing in silence, bowing their heads, filled with pain and agony," President Katsav told the crowd at the Wall. "The torches we are lighting today here are like the eternal candle that was lit in the Temple, a light which was never put off; it lights our faith in the future. We choose to remember the fallen here, at the kotel, where our temple once stood. "The price we paid for independence was extremely high. We are making every effort so that the next generation will be able to put down the guns. "We are again facing difficult and complex decisions. There are many hardships on the way to peace – but we shall walk toward it, side by side. "Tonight, as fresh flowers are put on the graves, there are no disagreements. We forget all internal strife and remember: We are one people. We are one nation, with one past and one destiny. "The fallen have given us the most precious thing in the world. We make a vow today to be worthy of their memory."