On Wednesday, February 3, Wreaths Across America will honor the American heroes known as “The Four Chaplains” with a special Facebook live event at 11 a.m. CST from the Balsam Valley Chapel and tip lands in Downeast Maine.
A news release says on January 23, 1943, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester left New York harbor bound for Greenland carrying over 900 officers, servicemen and civilian workers. The ship was a coastal passenger steamship requisitioned and operated by the War Shipping Administration (WSA) for wartime use as a troop ship. The ship was transitioning to the Labrador Sea when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat (U-233) on February 3, 1943. The ship sank and 675 people on board lost their lives. Amidst the chaos to save 230 lives, four chaplains guided soldiers trapped below deck to escape hatches and gave away their life jackets to save others. When the chaplains had done all they could, they linked arms to pray and sing hymns as the Dorchester slipped beneath the waves.
In this ceremony, participants will hear messages and stories about Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist) from Pennsylvania; Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish) from New York; Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed) from ohio; and Lt. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic) from New Jersey, “The Four Chaplains.” As well as remembrances for the crew of the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, African American Coast Guardsman Charles Walter David Jr. from New York will be remembered. He jumped into icy Greenland waters from a nearby rescue ship to save two men from drowning and then continued to help rescue a total of 93 survivors from life-boats. Fifty-four days after his heroic acts, David succumbed to pneumonia stemming from those icy waters. Today, there is a USCGC Sentinel class cutter named the Charles David Jr. in his honor and is homeported in Key West, Florida
At the close of this ceremony, there will be a remembrance tree tour of the Four Chaplains section of the Wreaths Across America tip land, where replica dog tags hang on live balsam trees in honor of their lives, duty and commitment to all of these American Heroes.
To share or connect to the live ceremony use this link: <https://www.facebook.com/events/170854841480684>.
To learn more about “The Four Chaplains” view this video: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym2y89TE9MA&t=184s>.