President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi presented awards to 15 IDF reserve units in a ceremony on Wednesday, praising the fighters’ selfless contributions.
“In the name of the State of Israel,” Peres told dozens of reservists at the ceremony, “I thank you, and emphasize: In light of the rockets and the enemies around us, the entire nation is an army, and the entire land is a [war] front. This was said long ago, and now it takes on added strength.”
The ceremony took place at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, near the Rechavia neighborhood.
"You can be proud of yourselves and your contribution,” Peres told the reserve soldiers, who serve several weeks a year in the army. “You have given the nation quality service… In praising you, I know that there are those who must be criticized, namely, those who do not share the burden with you – and this must be fixed. I well know that you sacrifice much precious time outside the home; you are young family men with children, and you willingly go to the reserves, without complaints. The State must make sure to compensate you fairly.”
Among the decorated reserve units were the anti-terror unit in the Southern Command; the Air Patrol “Shelef” unit in the Intelligence Wing; Israel Air Force's “Magic Touch” squadron; the Armored Corps Regiment in the “Iron Fist” Division of the Northern Command; the Special Infantry Regiment in Bar’am Division of the Northern Command; and the Homefront Command’s Infantry Regiment in the Jerusalem District.
Minister Barak said that the reserves force is the country’s “human defensive shield,” one that is “well-trained, practiced, and ready for any mission.”
Gen. Ashkenazi added, “We know that as long as the best sons of the country choose to volunteer in command and combat positions, the People of Israel can continue its daily routine in the knowledge that there are those who will fulfill the mission when called to do so.”