Yorktown to Host Four Chaplains Memorial Ceremony

While almost every American will be preoccupied with watching Super Bowl on Sunday, veterans around the nation will take time before this sporting event to commemorating the lives of four servicemen and their inspiring story from World War II. 

In February 1943, four US Army Chaplains on board a torpedoed and sinking troopship in the North Atlantic performed the ultimate sacrifice helping their fellow soldiers. One was a Rabbi, one a Dutch Reformed minister, the third a Lutheran minister, and the last was a Catholic priest.

Each served their country, their religious beliefs, and their fellow soldiers on that fateful night. The survivors of the attack that night told of the bravery and inspiration these four Chaplains exhibited that night.

Those who survived the sinking told the tale of these four Chaplains’ bravery and faith. The four Chaplains; Lt George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; Lt Alexander D. Goode, a rabbi; Lt John P. Washington, a Catholic priest; and Lt Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister were awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for their actions that night.

The  will have four prominent local clergy members joining them to celebrate the inspiring story of faith and bravery. Mother Claire Woodley-Aitchison of , Rabbi Robert Weiner of , Pastor Dan O’Brien of , and Thomas Sandi from will honor these men with a ceremony.

'Living History' students in Revolutionary War attire from the will present the nation's colors for the ceremony. 

The ceremony begins on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, located at 235 Veterans Road in Yorktown. 

The ceremony lasts less than an hour and will be done well before the Super Bowl pre-game shows. The ceremony is free and open to the public.