Don't Forget

I will always remember Staff Sergeant Michael Levin and I have never met him. He was killed in a clash with Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War. An American who immigrated to Israel in 2004. He as a member of an elite paratrooper unit. 

My friend Natan's brother was called to active duty during the war and was fighting in Lebanon. We would exchange daily SMS. Just my way of checking that he was okay. Then one day I woke with a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was wrong. I spent the day like that. And no answer to my SMS. Then later that day I heard the news.

Natan's brothers name in Hebrew is pronounced Micha-el. I always called him Michael, using the American pronunciation of his name. When I heard the news I understood that something terrible happened to Michael. Just not my Michael. 

Tonight starts Memorial Day in Israel for Fallen Soldiers. They fought for all of us. Remember them. Make Israel a better country in their memory.