Fallen soldier's friends want to name beach after him
1st-Sgt. Eitan Barak's favorite place was the coastal strip in Herzliya, so his friends are fighting convince the municipality to name the beach after him.
Barak, 20 from Herzliya, was Nahal Brigade soldier who was killed at the beginning of IDF's ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
Barak's friends said he loved the coastal strip south of Arena mall in Herzliya and used to go there on every leave he had from the army. "When Eitan arrived at the beach he was happy," friend Bar Nakash said.
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"Even when he accidently walked by the beach wearing a pair of jeans he would get into the water. He loved throwing himself on the sand and getting dirty. Eitan didn't say much about his military service, but the sea made him happy. At the beach he felt connected to himself and free," added Nakash.
During the shiva (Jewish seven days of mourning) Eitan's friends searched for ways to commemorate him. After the idea to name his favorite beach after him came up, attempts to convince the municipality began.
"We went to the city hall and they explained to us that legally when a soldier dies, you have to wait at least a year to commemorate him," explained Nakash. "Afterwards there are hearings in the Municipal Names Committee, so we decided in the meantime to make a move and introduce the change in people's minds," explained Nakash.
Last week, dozens of Eitan's friends and family arrived at the beach. Each wrote a sign with a few words about Eitan, to expose bathers to the close friend who was killed in battle.
"We brought big tents, lit campfires and made a fire inscription. Passersby started asking questions and expressed their support - it was very heart warming that people did a 'check in' on Facebook and wrote that they were currently at 'Eitan's Beach,'" added Nakash.
While waiting for the municipality's decision, Eitan's friends decided to document their efforts in a documentary. So far they managed to raise over NIS 33,000 ($9,000) out of a goal of NIS 40,000 ($11,000) that they are trying to raise in the next three weeks via the crowd-funding website Headstart.
