Over 23,000 soldiers killed fighting for Israel since 1860
Some 56 soldiers were added to the list while another 40 IDF veterans who died as a result of disabilities and injuries over the past year were also added to the list, the ministry said.
By ILANIT CHERNICKA woman mourns on Mount Herzl on Yom HaZikaron(photo credit: REUTERS)
Some 56 IDF soldiers who died over the last year have been added to the list of fallen soldiers to be commemorated for Yom Hazikaron this year, the Defense Ministry announced on Friday.In addition, another 40 IDF veterans who died as a result of disabilities and injuries over the past year were also added to the list, the ministry said.According to the Defense Ministry's Families and Commemoration Department, 23,741 soldiers have died fighting for Israel since 1860. The figures were released just days prior to Yom Hazikaron, which will be commemorated over Tuesday night and Wednesday.Two sirens will sound over the solemn day, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. Following the siren in the evening, memorial events will begin, as well as the official opening ceremony for events at the Western Wall Plaza.The Defense Ministry estimates that more than 1.5 million people are expected to visit military cemeteries and memorial sites during Yom Hazikaron. The ministry's activities will take place in 52 military cemeteries and hundreds of military burial plots - from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat - as well as thousands of graves in various communities across the country.Since last year's Independence Day, nine civilians have also been murdered.The ministry said that thousands of bottles will also be handed out and more than 20,000 chairs will be distributed in military cemeteries. Some 151 MDA vehicles will be placed in the cemeteries, and 135,000 bouquets of flowers will be distributed at the entrances to the cemeteries and placed on the graves of the fallen.
