The sacrifices of the many lives lost, and the agonizing pain of their families, were not in vain. Their legacies are indelibly etched on the history pages of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The FIDF community is committed to keeping the torches of their memories alive. Israel’s soldiers and their families carry the heavy weight for our right to exist as a free and independent nation. Every mother with a child who courageously takes the IDF oath to protect the homeland lives with the fear of how fragile their fate is. Col. Varda Pomerantz knows this fear and pain all too well. As the founder of the Bereavement Division of the IDF, she dedicated her life to giving comfort and strength to grieving families. One day, she received her own unimaginable news. This is Varda’s story.