Soldiers and commanders of the IDF
Israel Defense Forse in regular and reserve service - soldiers of
the Lebanon generation,
21 years ago, the gates of
Lebanon were closed, and the 18-year fighting period that lasted in
the security zone ended, but deep down, the Lebanon circle remains
open. To the tens of thousands of soldiers and commanders who served
in the security zone, the mission was clear: to protect the north
and its inhabitants.
The First Lebanon War and the period of
stay in the security zone shaped the northern arena, and to a large
extent radiated and influenced the entire Middle East. To the
generation of commanders that I and the members of the General Staff
belong to, Lebanon was the school of war. She was as sharp as a
sharpened knife, wounding us from time to time, but most of the time
we sharpened on her blade. We developed fighting methods and faced a
changing battlefield; there we learned and improved, and we changed,
but sometimes we changed too late. The challenges and threats
strengthened not only the professionalism, but also the
responsibility for the human life and the ability of leadership and
evil.
There in Lebanon we also met the compatriots, the
fighters of the Lebanese Army and their commanders, which was their
country. We served together and we fought together with a sense of
unity of destiny and partnership. Lebanon deepened the closeness and
forged the brotherhood of the fighters, and as the question grew,
the difficulty of saying goodbye to a friend, soldier, or commander
increased. The land of Lebanon charged us a heavy price, in body, in
a wounded soul, and in many who followed the road to the end. Many
others though returned from the arena and returned from the
battlefield, but their battle is still in progress; the physically
wounded and the mentally wounded are an example of determination and
steadfastness, not only during the campaign, but also after it.
Awarding the campaign ribbon is a national and moral duty.
Ceremonies and decorations are not just an external sign, they
embody appreciation and respect, but first and foremost he expresses
the values of the people and the society. Surely the campaign
ribbon is given to individuals and units, but it also indicates the
country that grants it, a country that indicates that the values
of security, personal sacrifice and contribution to the whole are
its values. The State of Israel faces many security challenges and
in order to maintain a quality army, it must cherish and nurture its
guards and its defenders, on the basic and valuable principle - that
those who contribute to the state receive an equal amount back from
it.
Generations of soldiers and commanders, wounded and
bereaved families - be proud of your military service and your
contribution for the security of the country. The State of Israel,
the IDF and I at its head, salute you.
The gate to Lebanon
was closed 21 years ago, and now that the campaign ribbon has been
distributed, the circle of recognition has also closed.
Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi
Sivan 5781
Chief of General Staff
June 2021
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