The first tree of a wood to be planted in memory of the 171 Israeli soldiers who died in the Sinai operation was planted today in an area overlooking the Gaza Strip. The project, on Jewish National Fund land, is sponsored by the Pioneer Women of America, sister organization of the Working Women’s Council of Israel.
The first tree was planted by Mrs. Yehudit Simchonit, mother of the late Gen. Asaf Simchoni, commander of the forces which overran the Sinai Peninsula in less than a week in the fall of 1956. He died a few days afterwards in an airplane crash. The wood will consist of 171 circles of 100 trees–each circle in memory of a different fallen hero. Relatives of the slain men will plant the first tree in each circle.
Present at the ceremony were representatives of the Pioneer Women, Maj. Gen. Chaim Laskov, Israel Army Chief of Staff, and Minister of Agriculture Kaddish Luz. Gen. Laskov, in a short address, warned the enemies of Israel “as these trees grow and deepen their roots, our enemies’ ways will not be able to uproot us. “
At a ceremony in Tel Aviv, this week was named Pioneer Women’s Week. Premier David Ben Gurion, Foreign Minister Golda Meir and Mrs. Rachel Yanait Ben Zvi, wife of the President of Israel, were present at the proclamation ceremony. Five hundred Pioneer Women are visiting Israel in a pilgrimage participating in the tenth anniversary. It was announced that the organization had already transferred $500, 000 to Israel this year and would send an additional $75, 000 as an anniversary gift.
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