Israel is my home now for more than 35 years. When I first settled here, Israelis and non-Israelis used to ask what I missed most. I would usually answer baseball, Autumn and Reese’s peanut butter cups.

Now that I’ve lived here most of my life, people ask me how Israel differs with the US.

One difference is how we treat Memorial Day here.

Every Israeli has a member of their family and/or good friend in a military cemetery. I served in a war here (1st Lebanese War) and left friends there. I also was a teacher and have former pupils who were KIA (I hope you know what that means).

So, I would say that here, Memorial Day hits us in the gut. Hard. It is part of us.

I have three sons. Two are reservists; one is serving his 3-year active duty in the Medical Corps of the IDF. For them I pray for peace and hope they never have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

On memorial day I see faces forever young that are no more.

That’s the difference.