Kansas Citians to Gather for First-Time Salute to Israel's Soldiers

Photo: Izzy Ezagui (Courtesy).

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – More than 100 Kansas City supporters of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) will gather on Thursday, June 15, at a private location in Overland Park to hear firsthand from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and pay tribute to the brave men and women who protect Israel and Jews around the world.

At the special event, Staff Sgt. (Res.) Izzy Ezagui, an American who moved to Israel and became a decorated squad commander in the IDF, will speak about his motivation behind returning to the battlefield after losing an arm in combat.

“After I woke up in the hospital, everything was difficult. I didn’t feel held back because of what happened, but I thought for sure I would never see combat again,” said Ezagui, who then taught himself to load, fire, and reload his weapon one-handed – and passed all the required tests to re-enter the IDF as a combat soldier. He now lives in New York and returns to Israel for reserve duty.

Guests at the event will learn about FIDF’s well-being and educational programs for IDF soldiers, including FIDF’s Lone Soldiers Program, which supports and cares for soldiers who enlist without immediate family in Israel. There are currently three Lone Soldiers from Kansas and 17 from Missouri serving in the IDF.

“This first tribute to Israel’s soldiers in the Kansas City area will be an excellent opportunity for the community to learn how they can support the well-being of IDF soldiers through FIDF,” said Darice Bailer, who is chairing the event. “The organization provides educational, cultural, recreational, and social services programs for Israeli soldiers, as well as FIDF IMPACT! Scholarships, state-of-the-art prosthetics, rehabilitative and recreational activities for wounded soldiers, vacations, summer camps and holiday gifts for the bereaved families of IDF, and flights home for soldiers who volunteer from abroad.”

Also speaking will be an IDF veteran whose education is being sponsored through the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which grants college scholarships to Israeli combat veterans of modest means.

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required. For more information or to support FIDF, please visit https://fidf.org/KansasCityTribute2017 or call (203) 856-0008.