Airborne Wings

I framed my father’s IDF paratrooper wings and photo and my US Army airborne wings and photo.

My father gave me his IDF wings when I was a little kid and later I found his IDF photo in his personal photo collection and took a copy. When I graduated Airborne School in 1986 and made this photo and wings collage to honor our achievements side by side.

I am extremely proud of my father’s IDF service as a paratrooper during the beginning years of the State of Israel. I used to ask him to tell me stories about this time in his life and some of the famous figures he met. His jump wing s are meaningful to me because he gave me this prized possession as a child. He made 21 jumps as an IDF paratrooper. When I look at his wings and photo I feel an incredible sense of pride that my father served in an elite unit and dedicated himself to the defense of Israel. He is my hero. I went to Airborne school to be like him. When I received my jump wings I was very proud to have followed in his footsteps and made the frame to highlight our shared experience. Today, this photo frame is one of my most prized possessions because it connects me to my beloved father, the IDF, and our shared love of Israel and the Jewish people. When I volunteer with the IDF as a Sar El volunteer, I wear my airborne wings on my uniform. When I think of my father, I often think of him as an IDF paratrooper.