February 3rd marks the anniversary of the sinking of the World War II United States Army Transport (USAT) Dorchester, and the selfless acts of four Army Chaplains. As the USAT Dorchester went down, four 1st Lieutenant Chaplains of different faiths made the ultimate sacrifice, and gave their life jackets to others. Two of the Chaplains were Protestant, one was a Rabbi, and one was a Catholic Priest. They assisted the crew, prayed, joined arms and went down with the ship. The heartfelt story, pictures and movie of The Four Chaplains can be accessed by clicking here. We Can Be Heroes Foundation featured the Four Chaplains movie in our Movie of the Week earlier in the month.
Eighty-one years later, on February 3, Rev. Patrick Archuleta hosted the Annual Four Chaplains Interfaith Memorial Service. The Service was held at the National POW-MIA Memorial Chapel of the High-Speed Pass, Cecil Field. in Jacksonville, FL. The Executive Director of the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation, Bill Kaemmer, was the keynote speaker.
Rev. Archuleta presented the prestigious Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation Legion of Honor Humanitarian Awards to four Americans. The awards recognize lifetime service to all people regardless of race or faith.
The Awards went to retired USMC LtCol. Robert Adelhelm of the Vets4Vets and Semper Fidelis Society, Kathy Cayton of the Navy Wives Club of America, Rafael Santiago of the Military Affairs Veterans Service Office-Jacksonville, and Beth Heath, CEO of the We Can Be Heroes Foundation. Chaplain Archuleta spoke to the crowd about the accomplishments and lifetime community service of the four recipients.
Click here to see photos of the awards ceremony and the We Can Be Heroes Team present at the awards.
Mark your calendar for February 3 each year to honor the Dorchester Chaplains and future recipients of the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation Legion of Honor Humanitarian Awards.