By Tzvi Zucker
JERUSALEM (Tazpit)–Over a thousand people crowded into the Mount Herzl military cemetery on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to escort Staff Sergeant Almog Shiloni to his final resting place. Shiloni was murdered Monday in Tel Aviv in a terror attack.
Shiloni was buried with full military honors, and was promoted one rank posthumously.
His twin brother Sahar gave a eulogy, saying “They told me to prepare a few words, but I said no, you [Almog] will tell me what to say…for us it’s hard. Just help us from Above, strengthen us. I had one heart, and now I have half of a broken one. I love you, my brother.”
His friends all spoke of his deep desire to help others, and how he put everyone before himself. Shiloni was deemed unfit for combat duty due to his poor eyesight, but pushed his way into a role guarding Air Force bases and planes so that he can shoulder his share in serving his country.
“We will never forget your smiles, which you spread so freely, with love, or your face that was half eyes and half smile” said an unidentified friend of Shiloni’s during a eulogy. “We would always speak about your upcoming wedding, if you were prepared, what you were thinking, how you felt about it….G-d wanted something else, instead.”
Dalia Lemkos, 26, was murdered in a separate stabbing attack in Gush Etzion. She was laid to rest in her hometown of Tekoa Tuesday morning.
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Zucker is a staff writer for the Tazpit News Agency in Israel