Watching My Daughter Serve This Memorial Day

Yael Eckstein  |  May 26, 2026

Yael Eckstein in southern Israel visiting the 414th Eagle Battalion and Passover Holiday Toast and distribution of gift vouchers to lone and needy soldiers, then 931st Battalion in Kissufim at a lookout opposite Gaza and finally the Eshkol Regional Council for distribution of equipment to emergency teams in the Gaza Envelope region, Yael Eckstein standing near embankment, flag of Israel and US waving against a blue sky with clouds, leopard shirt, black skirt
Photo: Staff

This week, the U.S. observed Memorial Day. Our President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein talks about how we remember not just the sacrifices, but the legacies of those who fought to defend the cherished values of freedom in an op-ed with The Christian Post:

When I think of American sacrifice, my mind often returns to World War II. The world was drowning in darkness, and yet American soldiers crossed oceans to confront evil head‑on. They liberated camps, saved lives, and helped restore hope to a shattered world. Their bravery is not just history. It is a legacy. It is a blessing. It is something I thank God for every single day.

And in more recent years, American service members have continued to stand for what is right — fighting terrorism, protecting the innocent, and defending the values that both America and Israel hold dear. Their sacrifice has made the world safer for all of us.

This year, Memorial Day feels especially personal. My daughter Meyora is currently serving in the IDF. I am so proud of her — proud of her strength, her conviction, and her willingness to protect our people. But as every military parent knows, pride and fear often walk hand in hand.

When your child puts on a uniform, you learn to live with a new kind of prayer. A prayer for safety. A prayer for courage. A prayer that God will bring them home.

And you also learn something else: not every parent’s child does.

Read the whole op-ed.