The American Legion Auxiliary Veterans Memorial Unit 347 had the distinct honor of holding a service to commemorate Four Chaplains Day on Feb. 3, preceding their monthly meeting. The service, which was presented by Unit Chaplain Donna McGlone, with opening reading by Sixth District President Charlotte Bass, included the following remembrances and participants.
Short biographies of each of the chaplains were read by the following friends and members of the Auxiliary. Margaret Greenwitt, who served as an Army Tech Sergeant in World War II, mostly in the Pacific theater, including the Philipines with Gen. Douglas MacArthur, is a practicing Methodist Deacon. Member Mary Feeley served as this Auxiliary’s unit Chaplain and chaplain for another Post for five years. Member Janet van Mol is the Sunshine Lady at Water Oak, visiting the sick and dying. Member Trish Baer has worked with Community Service and Education, now works with the Children and Youth committee.
Musical contributions were made by the following. “Amazing Grace” sung by Robbie Milam, Choir Director at Community United Methodist Church in Fruitland Park. Matt Rogers, a local performing musician, played the Chapman Stick.
Joy Goff, an Air Force Veteran of the Korean War/Conflict and member of Post 347 played “Taps” during the service.
If you are not familiar with Four Chaplains Day, this is a brief synopsis.
In 1943 during WWII, a refurbished troop ship, The Dorchester, carrying 902 troops was torpedoed by a German U233 submarine 150 miles from Greenland. Four Army Chaplains, 2 Protestant ministers, a Roman Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, organized evacuation from the sinking ship. When they gave away the last of the life jackets, the chaplains took off their own, handing them to the next four GI’s. The frigid water and freezing air temperatures promised certain death for the chaplains. The 230 survivors that made it into life rafts before the Dorchester sank, reported seeing the chaplains with linked arms singing, praying and laughing as the ship sank.
The four chaplains who performed this selfless and heroic act were U.S. Army Lieutenants, Rev. George L. Fox (Methodist), Rev. Clark V. Poling (Reformed Church in America), Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Jewish) and Father John P. Washington (Roman Catholic).
On Dec. 19, 1944, all four Chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross. Congress also attempted to award the Medal of Honor to the four chaplains, but requirements for that medal called for heroism performed “under fire”. Because their actions took place after the ship was torpedoed, they were not performed “under fire”.
On July 14, 1960, Members of Congress unanimously approved a special medal that would carry the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor. In January of 1961, the Four Chaplains’ Medal, was presented posthumously to the next of kin of each of the Four Chaplains. This heroic act has been memorialized in many ways, including a commemorative stamp, songs, films, many works of art and architecture to name a few. In 1988, February 3 was established by a unanimous act of Congress, as an annual “Four Chaplains Day.”
In addition to the Four Chaplains Service, the Auxiliary’s monthly meeting included a visit and update on district wide events from Sixth District President Charlotte Bass, and updates on this Auxiliary’s many committee events and projects that are underway. Fifty-three new members were approved and welcomed into the Auxiliary, which is the second largest in the State of Florida.
One of the Auxiliary’s more pressing needs at this time is providing food and warm clothing for those in need in our local municipalities and in the Ocala Forest. To donate to this urgent need or to become involved with the Auxiliary, contact President Carol Pirone-Udell at 914-373-9947 or Secretary Jean Flake at 352-350-3703.
You can also visit American Legion Veterans Memorial Post 347, 699 W. Lady Lake Road, Lady Lake, Florida 32159, phone 352-750-2099 or online at florida-legion.com.
