Not Just a Number

Shay in Life

 "He was my children example.  They looked up to him, they mimic his behavior"

"When he walk into the room, the sun came in and shined on everyone face"

"He grow up with my kids, right in front of my eyes"

"He gave so much of himself, constantly helping"

"He taught the younger kids in the Khila, a leader - a youth leader"

The mourning did not stop there.  People gather around the freshly dug grave and the area surrounding it, and in hashed voices talked and cried and hugged each other.

Shay Koshnir was a light and joy to many people around him while alive. He became one of five who died yesterday.  We were at his funeral today and the sorrow is overwhelming.

A friend who drove his son to the Hermon, returning him from a visit with his baby boy to the base, came to pick us up. We arrived late.  The army is precise and the funeral just finished.  We heard the gun salute.  The expressions above are things that were said to us with teary eyes and hurting hearts.

How do you live with death of a son?  A young friend?  A youth leader?  Shay was only 20; his memory will live in our hearts forever.

213th Day of Thanks -

I thank you God that each of our soldiers who gave up their lives for our country is known by you, personally.  I thank you God that they are not just a number in your eyes and that each of them is loved and stays in our memories just as we knew and love them while they were alive.  I thank You God that we will meet Shay again in the hereafter.

Deeply Sadden,

Orith