One of my favorite celebrations is the Yom Ha’atzmaut Flagpole Ceremony where our older students explain the birth of the modern state of Israel, quote from the Declaration of Independence as it was announced when Israel became an independent nation in 1948, and raise the flag which had been at half staff in memory of the fallen on Yom Hazikaron. Then the whole school bursts out in song and dance to celebrate. We have enjoyed hosting Israeli Disabled Vets visiting Pittsburgh, and also try to have them join us for this celebration. I remember that one year, a veteran stood by my side, tears flowing from his eyes, as he watched hundreds of children and dozens of staff members in this American school, dancing and singing to celebrate Israel’s independence. I said that I can imagine it must be hard for him, thinking about the wars and his own permanent disability that resulted. He said – “no, I am crying because I never knew that while we are over there, fighting every day for our survival, that schools in America would be celebrating and supporting us in this way. I just didn’t know, and would not have believed it”.