Why are Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut linked?

The establishment of the state of Israel cost us many casualties. Many soldiers gave their lives for Am Yisrael and the Land of Israel. With G-d's help and by their devotion and self sacrifice, the State of Israel was born and continues to exist. Therefore the state did the right thing by instituting a prayer for their souls, and the appropriate day is the eve of Yom HaAtzmaut, to express the recognition we know that thanks to them the state was born and continues to exist. This answer was submitted by Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed Shlit"a