Israel Favorites: Part 7 - Remnants of War

It isn't as often that in America I come across reminders of hard fought battles. Sure, we have our memorials and museums, but they aren't generally in areas with heavy traffic that you might pass every day. At least not in places that I have lived. I suppose the one that fits this criteria the closest would have been the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. However, even this was in an entertainment area. You usually weren't there unless you were seeing the sights. 

This was at a memorial of the Yom Kippur War. Against incredible odds, the Israeli forces managed to hold their own and send their enemy running. Thankfully, it was during a time when most people were home with their families, celebrating life. So there weren't civilians everywhere as there may have been during another holiday.

Our AMAZING guide, Shraga, turns 81 this year. This guy is a hero that retired as a Lt. Colonel. He was recognized everywhere we went, with honor and respect and love from everyone. 

Israel is a different story. War remnants are along their highways. You see it at certain gates in the pock marks. And yes, they also have the museums. Some of the stories we heard from our guide were incredibly heartbreaking. He served in some the great battles in Israel. From the Yom Kippur War to the 6 Day War, among others. His stories were inspiring, yet so tragic.

Israel has a lot of conflict with the Arab nations around it. Egypt, in particular, had a leader so dead-set on destroying Israel that he said it didn't matter how many battles they lost to Israel, so long as they won one. I can't imagine being so headstrong that I'd sacrifice my own soldiers in an effort to just attempt taking out a nation I hated! But these nations have. Repeatedly. 

Tanks are left at one site, but you will see artillery from some others lying along the highway. A tank track is abandoned where it snapped off. Russia sent tanks to help the Arab nations. America sent planes and tanks to help the Israeli's. This one you see below shows an amazing moment, frozen in time. On it's side, you can see where it was grazed with a shot. But then you see the kill shot in the middle, just below it's gun.

Some gates stand in solemn reminder that hard battles were won in Israel. We passed through a couple times and couldn't help but gaze in wonder at what looks like a fortress against evil intent.

After Israel won its Independence in 1948, they knew it was time to set a new law in place. The Holocaust had taken a heavy toll on millions of Jews around the world. So many were displaced. So Israel opened their doors and called everyone "Home". They decided that any Jew, any where, any time, would be able to go home. To the land of their forefathers. Israel would nurture them. They would get them on their feet, to help them restore lives. 

The hardest, most heart wrenching, part of the trip was going to the Holocaust Memorial.  I couldn't even stay in the building or read half of the information given. You could easily spend an entire day walking through the Memorial alone. But the chilling stories of murder, deception, and the amount lives that were taken or destroyed is just staggering. 1.5 million deaths were that of children. I have a mother's heart. I can't understand how someone can be so heartless to kill a child. A special section was created to remember each and every name of the children lost. It was donated by a husband and wife who had their little boy ripped from his mother's arms and thrown into the crematorium. Uziel was his name.

His face is at the entrance to the hall that shines a light for each child, reads their names, ages and where they were from, while also showing their photos.

War is such an ugly thing. From it, however, comes beautiful reminders of the determination of the human race that also warn us of repeating mistakes.