Last night was the beginning of Yom Hazikaron and today, April 22,  it continues. I'm hesitant to call it Memorial Day because it's not like the American Memorial Day which tends to be full of barbecues and beers. Yom Hazikaron is a somber day of remembrance for all of Israel's fallen soldiers. It's a day to remember that Israel wouldn't be what it is today without them.

Generation after generation serves in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) so there is a strong connection of understanding which runs throughout the entire country.

Today, over 22,000 IDF soldiers are standing watch over the grave sites of each fallen soldier. They know the story of the fallen soldier they've been assigned and connect with the families beforehand.

At 11 a.m. a siren sounded for  two minutes and the entire country came to a standstill. Everything stopped. The most impactful part for me was when the siren ended and the world picked up right where it left off.

It's a day to remember the past but it's also a time to honor those who have fallen by carrying on their legacy and continuing to have a positive influence on Israel.

I'll leave you with a few words my father says every Memorial Day, in the U.S.:  "And let's not forget those who fought and are still fighting for us. Cheers."

Featured photo of the streets of Tel Aviv during the two moments of silence on Yom Hazikaron is by Alexa Hayes.