For a long time, Sergeant Tomer Refaeli, a lieutenant colonel in the 51st Golani Regiment, felt a huge responsibility on his shoulders, literally; not only under the influence of the position, but also under the influence of his beret: the beret of the late Major Itamar Elharar, commander of the Egoz unit the last one.
"I knew everything they said about the late Itamar.
And how I knew him, "says Tomer, 19 and a half years old from Holon." I was always told that it was a great honor to wear this beret, which was once his.
Unfortunately, I did not know him personally, but from the stories about him - no one did not admire him.
I have always been proud to have this beret, which he once wore, on my shoulder.
I carried her with great respect, and I kept her safe. "
This beret has undergone many incarnations, which was suddenly charged with a chilling meaning with Itamar's death in an operational accident in the Jordan Valley, alongside the late Major Ofek Aharon.
Itamar himself, only 26 years old at the time of his fall, received it from his cousin Shai Peretz, who was a commander in the Golani.
She accompanied him along his route in the Crow Company in the brigade, until he began serving as a lieutenant colonel.
The moving gesture of Sergeant Tomer Refaeli, Photo: Liron Moldovan
"He immediately told me that he received it from Itamar, and everyone knew who Itamar was. Its president was obligatory, in a good way," said Tomer, adding: "But after the disaster, I felt that the place of this beret was with his parents. It is required. Although I worked hard. "To reach her brown beret, and it moved me very much to carry it on me, but if I managed to do good to Itamar's family - then she's theirs."
Another incarnation is complete
Refaeli recently contacted the family through his IDF commanders. He expressed a desire to meet them and hand them the beret, which lists the names of everyone who wore and wore it. Ram, and gave them the beret that belonged to their son.
Itamar's parents, Debbie and Moti, received him very warmly.
"We did not know about the beret that Tomer had, but we know the past incarnations, because it has the names of everyone who carried it. And now another incarnation has been completed," says Debbie.
"I can say that everyone who wore it was very worthy. We were very moved by the gesture. We know that every soldier who receives a beret from a commander keeps it on guard, so it is exciting that someone comes and hands us a beret he received from his direct commander, which is such a significant symbol."
Fell in the incident.
The late Ofek Aharon,
Now, after Itamar's death, his mother says that "today we cling to stories and symbolic things that bring us closer to Itamar and make us feel him. Although his scent is not on the beret, it was his, and therefore our excitement. Now, when we met Tomer and heard his story And his desire to become an officer, I know that the beret was always given to the right person. "
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