Defense minister lights virtual candle in honor of Israel's fallen

"On Remembrance Day, the Israeli nation, as one big family, bows its head and unites with the memories of all of the fallen of Israel's wars."

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon visits the family of fallen soldier Oron Shaul. (photo credit: ARIEL HERMONI / DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon visits the family of fallen soldier Oron Shaul.
(photo credit: ARIEL HERMONI / DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon lit a virtual candle on Sunday in honor of Israel’s 23,320 fallen soldiers and civilian victims of hostile action.
“On Remembrance Day, the Israeli nation, as one big family, bows its head and unites with the memories of all of the fallen of Israel’s wars, as a moral obligation to those who in their death commanded us to live, so that we may be worthy of them,” Ya’alon wrote after lighting the virtual candle.
The memorial application, created by the Defense Ministry, allows every visitor to its website to light a candle to dedicate a personal message and share it with others.
Israel will mark Remembrance Day for soldiers and victims of terrorism on Tuesday evening, and honor 116 recently fallen soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in the past year.
Of the 116 who lost their lives over the course of the last year, 67 soldiers and five civilians were killed during Operation Protective Edge last summer, leaving behind 131 bereaved families, 11 widows, 26 orphans, and 187 bereaved families. Two soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah missile attack in January.
In addition, 35 IDF disabled veterans who succumbed to their wounds have been recognized as IDF fallen soldiers this year.
There are some 553 soldiers – including St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul, who was killed in Gaza last summer – whose place of burial remains unknown. The ministry said there is a total of 9,753 bereaved families, 4,958 widows, and 2,049 orphans aged up to 30.