Col. Ilan Ramon Laid to Rest

Israel Defense Forces ^ | February 12th, 2003 | IDF Spokesperson's Unit

[yonif]

February 12th, 2003

Col. Ilan Ramon Laid to Rest

Col. Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut, was buried yesterday in Nahalal Cemetery in northern Israel with full military honors. Family members, high-ranking IDF and Israel Air Force personnel and dozens of his friends accompanied Col. Ramon's coffin on its last journey.

The ceremony was modest as per the family's request and Heads of State, members of the public and the media were asked to stay away.

The IDF Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the Israel Air Force and the former President of Israel, Eizer Weizman, were present at the funeral. Also present at the funeral were two NASA representatives, including the Head of Administrative Staff.

Ilan Ramon's father eulogized Ilan and compared his journey in space to that of Moses, saying, "Ilan, like Moses, came to the Promised Land. Moses saw it but did not enter, Ilan managed to enter, but not in the way that we meant for him to."

Rona, Ilan's widow, requested that a recording of John Lennon's song "Imagine" be played at the funeral, a song that the crew of Columbia had listened to whilst in space. The astronauts' voices could be heard in the background of the recording.

Four F-16 planes flew low over the cemetery as a mark of honor. Symbolic of Col. Ramon's death, one of the four planes separated from the other three, flying off in a different direction.

Next to Ilan's grave, the Ramon family placed a box with the words: "Letters to Ilan" written on it. In this box visitors can leave letters for Ilan's wife, Rona, for his children, and for the rest of his family.

Click Here for the Chief of General Staff's Eulogy for Col. Ramon

Click Here for the Chief of the Air Force's Eulogy for Col. Ramon

[onedoug]

"Shema Yisrael. Adonai elohenu. Adonai echad!"

God Bless Ilan Ramon. God Bless Israel.

[anymouse]

Our condolences to Col. Ramon's family.

[OldFriend]

Amen

[cake_crumb]

G_d grant peace and strength to his family. He was a hero who died achieving a dream which epitomizes all that is great and noble in the human race.

[judicial meanz]

True Heroes never die. He will be remembered forever.