Planned future site of the Chapel of the Four Chaplains.
The Four Chaplains served on the USAT Dorchester during WWII. When their ship was torpedoed, they attempted to maintain order and calm among the enlisted men and helped many to escape from the sinking ship, whereupon they themselves drowned. They were four friends — one Catholic, two Protestants, and one Jew (unusual for the time) — and the story has become iconic as a representation of the value of religious diversity in the American context. The associated foundation gives small scholarships to promote these values, plus an annual prize to reward those who have performed acts of self-sacrifice for the sake of others of different religious or ethnic backgrounds. (Recently a prize went to two activists for Palestinian-Israeli peace and friendship.)
Relevant Web pages
| ImmortalChaplains.org |
| FourChaplains.org (official site) |
| HomeOfHeroes.com/Brotherhood |
Contact information
| Physical address: |
1 Dorchester Way Phoenixville, PA |
| Mailing address: |
Box 1943 Valley Forge, PA 19482-1943 |
| Tel.: | (610) 933-3599 |
| Email: | chapel@FourChaplains.org |
Media resources:
Speaking of Faith presented a Memorial Day program that dealt with the Four Chaplains (not sure of the original broadcast date, but pretty recent).
Here’s a link to a relevant news story from Hannibal, MO (free login required).
A copy of the commemorative 3c stamp (note the legend: “INTERFAITH IN ACTION”)
From the Army Chaplain Ctr. and School.
Note that the stamp was issued in 1948, much sooner after the chaplains’ death than was customary, which suggests the powerful impact this story must have had on people at the time. The stamp was designed by Louis Schwimmer, and his son comments that “this may be the first stamp commemorating a Jew. It is undoubtedly, the first US postage stamp designed by a Jew that commemorates a Jew.” See below for a full-size image of Schwimmer’s original design.
Commemorative medal (same source):
Planned chapel design:
From HomeOfHeroes.org
