The annual commemoration ceremony in memory of the 617 victims of the Combat Engineering Corps took place tonight (Wednesday).

The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Aviv Kochavi and with the participation of the Commander of the Maneuvering System, Major General Yaakov Banjo, the Chief Combat Engineering Officer, Brigadier General Ido Mizrahi, the bereaved families and past and present corps commanders and soldiers. The ceremony was held at the Combat Engineering Corps Memorial located near Kibbutz Hulda.

In the words of the Chief of General Staff, Major General Aviv Kochavi:

 "Engineering soldiers are pioneers in their field, and many times - the first are ready for everything. First before the tank or the ADF, first to cross the fence, first to level the road. The engineering warriors operated and fought in the most dangerous places, in the most complex places and in all the places where there is no substitute for the unique profession of the corps. Dear families, I strengthen you and embrace you, but I want to say one more thing to you: the pain that does not let go must remind you that this is part of the protection of the people and part of the conditions that enable state development and prosperity. The pain must therefore remind you that hundreds of thousands of families do not know pain of your kind, thanks to you, thanks to the boys and girls.

The events of recent months have proved once again - that the entire IDF is the pioneer before the people, and at any cost and in the face of any danger, we will know how to surprise the enemy and arrest him before carrying out a murderous attack. The security that the State of Israel enjoys may at times seem obvious, but behind every quiet and safe day is an extensive and intensive operational activity of soldiers and commanders, who work nights and days to fulfill the role and mission of the IDF. That security is you. You are an excellent generation of warriors. A generation that continues the mission of the fallen and is driven by the same strong and determined spirit that led them. Continue to act with courage, responsibility and devotion against those who seek our evil, continue to be worthy of the heroism of the fallen, and continue to be first. 

Blessed be the memory of the boys.  

In the words of the Chief Combat Engineering Officer, Brigadier General Ido Mizrahi: "Since the establishment of the Israel Defense Forces, the corps' fighters and commanders have been at the core of their operational activities. In the battle field.We paid, and still pay, the highest price, in the form of our loved ones, IDF casualties, including the combat engineering corps casualties. Six hundred and seventeen of our best daughters and sons, first-rate commanders and warriors, soldiers and intellectuals, who acted heroically and fell dedicated to achieving the mission. Those who have not returned from their military mission  - their absence and loss is heartbreaking. 

We will continue to fulfill the moral commandment left to us by our fallen: to ensure the continued existence of the State of Israel. From here, we offer a prayer for the safe return of all IDF soldiers  who are  missing in action, for the speedy recovery of the wounded and for the memory of our loved ones, the victims of the Combat Engineering Corps. "