The first signs of victory over the coronavirus pandemic are exhilarating. Words like "lockdown, quarantine, morbidity" no longer dominate the news headlines. Instead, we read about "returning to normal," "opening the country," and even "vacationing and going to the cinema."
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It might be too early to celebrate, and we must remain cautious. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we can finally think about the future.
One of the first things we should contemplate is recognizing the "soldiers" who fought in this war – i.e., the doctors and nurses who worked tirelessly and dedicatedly to treat our sick – with a special citation. The healthcare staff has been the only source of stability during this chaos.
Until now, Israel has glorified its military accomplishments. Every child in Israel learns about its military heroes, and rightfully so. Time has come to stress the importance of healthcare workers in our civil system too.
These doctors and nurses, who worked three shifts in a row, and continued to provide service despite exhaustion and lack of sleep, will not be showered with flowers upon returning from service. Nobody is naming streets after those who brought a person back to life. There is no such thing as a victory march of scientists and anesthesiologists. These heroes will continue to stand guard long after the memory of the coronavirus fades from our memory.
Most Western countries have a well-developed system in place for civilian awards and medals. Israel has several awards too.
The President's Medal has been awarded throughout the years with great generosity. It can also be presented to foreign leaders. For example, German Chancellor Angela Merkel received it in 2014.
Creating a medal for healthcare workers is an opportunity to establish a system that commemorates and praises only Israelis and only for contributions to fields unrelated to the military.
It might still be too early to celebrate and award medals, but it is not too early to begin thinking about it and propose a bill to the government.
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