VA Secretary Robert Wilkie traveled to Israel last week to represent President Donald J. Trump at a September 11 ceremony in Jerusalem marking the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 Al-Qaeda attacks against the United States.
The Israeli Monument
Israel has built a monument with the names of nearly 3,000 victims from 9/11. Wilkie represented the United States and president Trump at the ceremony for the victims.
The event took place during Secretary Wilkie’s five-day visit to Israel. During his stay, Secretary Wilkie met with senior officials from Israel’s Ministry of Defense and they shared information about helping Veterans. The issues that came up were health care, transitioning to civilian life, and mental health.
Disabled Rehabilitation Division
The Ministry of Defense has a special department called Disabled Rehabilitation Division that provides most of the services to Israel’s Disabled Veterans, therefore the VA’s natural partner when it comes to collaboration on Veterans programs.
Rami Beracha and Ziv Shilon
Secretary Wilkie’s wife, Julia, also traveled with the delegation and met with the spouses of fallen soldiers. She also participated in roundtable discussions on mental health and alternative care for Veterans.
The Wilkies had dinner with Disabled Veterans at Beit Ha’Lochem, which rehabilitates wounded Veterans, who shared their story with him:
Rami Beracha, who was injured during the First Lebanon War when he hit a mine. As a result of the severe injury, Beracha lost his arm and leg. Ziv Shilon, who was injured during an operational activity and lost his arm.
Wilkie gave to Rami Beracha and Shilon a medal of honor to show the strong bonds between our two nations.
As part of the visit, the United States delegation met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Deputy Minister of Defense Eli Ben-Dahan, and the director of the Policy and Political Military Bureau in the Ministry of Defense Zohar Palti, and senior United States diplomatic officials.
For more information about Disabled Israeli Veterans read Arutz Sheva article at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/268380
For more information about the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs visit https://www.va.gov/
