Veterans Aim To Preserve Ocean County's Historic Cathedral Of The Air

MANCHESTER, NJ — Local veterans are seeking to have the Cathedral of the Air at Navy Lakehurst designated as a national historic landmark, to preserve its history and importance to veterans in Ocean County.

Representatives of American Legion Post 129 are rallying support for historic protection of the military chapel at Navy Lakehurst, which was conceived by Reverend Gill Robb Wilson, one-time national chaplain of the American Legion.

The Ocean County Commissioners pledged their support for their efforts this week, with Director Joseph H. Vicari noting that more than 30,000 veterans live in Ocean County.

The full news release from commissioners is below:

Noting its historical significance to Ocean County and its large veteran population, representatives of American Legion Post 129, here, recently asked for support from the Ocean County Board of Commissioners in its efforts to preserve the Cathedral of the Air at Navy Lakehurst.

American Legion Post 129 Commander Ralph Moranz told the Board of Commissioners that the Legion membership and veterans would like to see the Cathedral be designated a national historic landmark.

The Cathedral of the Air is a Norman-Gothic military chapel in Lakehurst. It was conceived by Reverend Gill Robb Wilson, one-time national chaplain of the American Legion, and is intended to serve the military personnel serving at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

“The American Legion has long and deep roots in this cathedral,” Moranz said. “The chapel is designed as a World War I memorial.”

He noted that when the cathedral was built by the American Legion there had been no place for service men and women to worship.

“The American Legion wants the cathedral designated a National Historic Landmark to preserve, protect and defend it historically and from compromise,” Moranz said.

American Legion post members noted that they have collected over 600 signatures to preserve the Cathedral.

“A lot of people from Ocean County celebrated their marriages there,” said Legion Member William Schmidt. “It would be a disservice to have the building fall into disrepair.”

Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari pledged the board’s support for the Legion’s effort to have the building designated as a national landmark.

“With more than 30,000 veterans living in Ocean County, you have my word, we will do everything we can to support you,” Vicari said.

“The Legion members said that in 1943, the Cathedral was rededicated to memorialize four World War II chaplains for their historic and selfless acts on the SS Dorchester. Each chaplain was recognized with a stained glass window in the Cathedral.

“There are also memorials to the sailors who lost their lives in the tragic crashes of the USS Akron and the USS Shenandoah airships, two military dirigibles that were based at Navy Lakehurst,” stated the American Legion.

According to the American Legion, representatives from Post 129 have contacted the U.S. Department of Interior to start the application to preserve the Cathedral of the Air.