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The Four Chaplains ceremony is a memorial service held on or around February 3rd to honor the actions of four chaplains who died in World War II: The chaplains
The four chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Lt. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic), and Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed).
The event
On February 3, 1943, the U.S. Army Transport Ship (USAT) Dorchester was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. The chaplains gave their life jackets to other soldiers on the ship, and were last seen with their arms locked and singing as the ship sank.
The ceremony
Four Chaplains ceremonies are often multi-faith and include symbols such as four candles, pictures of the chaplains, or four easels with life jackets. Other common elements include:
Inviting representatives from different faith groups
Displaying photos of the chaplains, red roses, life jackets, or empty seats
Lighting candles or laying wreaths
Sharing a message about selfless service
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
105 Hollywood Blvd NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL, United States, Florida 32548
