In February, America Uniquely Celebrates Faith and Interfaith Efforts of the 'Four Chaplains' from the Floor of Congress to a WW2 Eyewitness Creating a Florida Monument

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a commemoration of one of America's worst maritime tragedies and a celebration of the faith and self-sacrifice of four heroic U.S. Army Chaplains, thousands of Americans soon will meet in churches, synagogues, VA Hospital Chapels, veterans' posts and even in Congress in special interfaith memorials.

On February 3, 1943, 672 soldiers lost their lives when their troopship, a converted 1920's cruise ship, USAT Dorchester, was torpedoed just 80 miles from Greenland. In the midst of this horrific tragedy, the ship's survivors reported an amazing act of faith, fortitude and self-sacrifice. As the ship was sinking, four U.S. Army Chaplains of different faiths gave up their life jackets and places in lifeboats. In fellowship, Rev. George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Rev. Clark Poling and Father John Washington stood heads bowed and shoulder-to-shoulder in prayer as the ship sank.

Soldiers who knew the chaplains were not surprised by their brotherhood: They demonstrated interfaith cooperation long before facing death, serving as a group to ease and comfort their fellow servicemen in wartime.  

After the war, some of the chaplains' families helped establish the Chapel of the Four Chaplains (http://www.fourchaplains.org) in Philadelphia to promote interfaith action and selfless service. Veterans' groups like the American Legion, whose membership included some of the chaplains, also organize annual ceremonies. In addition, houses of worship where these chaplains prayed continue to honor the chaplains' specific faith and sacrifice in beautiful stained glass windows and memorial services. Some of the chaplains' hometowns, like York, Pennsylvania, hold annual community breakfasts in their memory.

Similar to these four chaplains, commemorations this February reflect diverse perspectives, including a service and dinner sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington on February 3rd and a mass at Father John Washington's Church, St. Stephen Parish of Kearny, NJ, at noon on Sunday, February 5th.

Congress created the Chaplains' Medal of Honor in 1960. In maintaining that special tradition, on February 7th, a spiritual leader from one of the congregations that was led by one of the Four Chaplains will give the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives, to be followed by Congressional remarks.

A truly special commemoration occurs the following week, February 14th at 2 pm, when World War II veteran Ernie Heaton, one of the last surviving eyewitnesses to the historic acts on the USAT Dorchester, dedicates a monument to the Four Chaplains at Riverview Park in Sebastian, Florida. The annual Chapel of Four Chaplains Banquet will be held immediately afterwards to celebrate this achievement.

The Chapel of Four Chaplains is a charity that provides free online materials to all who want to recount this timeless story. The Chapel also assists non-profits in recognizing outstanding volunteers and members of the community with the Four Chaplain Legion of Honor and other awards.

Contact: 

Fred Honigman
[email protected]
http://www.fourchaplains.org
610-783-0849

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SOURCE Chapel of Four Chaplains