SEBASTIAN — At the annual Memorial Day ceremony, 11 a.m. Monday, May 28 at Riverview Park in Sebastian, presentation of the Four Chaplains monument to the City of Sebastian will take place. The monument commemorates the Four Chaplains and Interfaith in Action.
The Four Chaplains Monument Committee of Indian River County, FL. is proud to have Dorchester survivor Ernie Heaton and Sebastian Honor Guard Officer Charlie Long light the monument‘s “Eternal Flame“. Heaton, who is now 89, was the last man to see the Four Chaplains alive as he abandoned ship on that fateful morning of February 3, 1943.
The North County Veterans advisory committee invites the public to the monument dedication. The Four Chaplains Monument will be a permanent place for all to gather and learn about these immortal men and the importance of “Interfaith in Action“
The monument honors the heroic actions that occurred on February 3, 1943, as the USAT Dorchester was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank within twenty minutes. Of the 902 soldiers and crew on board, only 229 survived. Many of those survivors owe their lives to the four special men – chaplains of various faiths – Father John Washington (Catholic), the Rev. Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish) and the Rev. George Fox (Methodist).
The four chaplains aboard the USAT Dorchester represented three faiths working together as one. As the ship began to sink, the four chaplains spread out among the soldiers, calming the frightened, tending to the injured and guiding the men to lifeboats. When no more life jackets were available to give out, the chaplains took off their own life jackets and gave them to four soldiers who they did not even know.
The USAT Dorchester was rapidly sinking and, having made their fateful commitment, the Chaplains braced against the railing of the bow, their arms linked together, and their strong voices heard through the icy cold midnight air : “Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” and “Shma Yisroel Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echod.” These great Americans, who as brothers found strength in their diversity by focusing on the Eternal Father they all shared.
The Four Chaplains monument is made of polished black granite that features large laser cut images of the Chaplains and the USAT Dorchester. An “eternal flame” is located on the bow of the ship, The monument rests on a limestone bolder that is 10 feet long, four feet wide, and five feet high. It is set into an 18 foot diameter fountain which has water sprays and night time illumination.
There will be a “Memorial Brick Walkway” that surrounds the monument and joins together all of the Veterans monuments presently located in Riverview Park. The bricks, made from red clay boast indelible black glass letters that withstand all of the elements including the hot Florida sun. The walkway is handicap accessible and will be in place for Memorial Day.
Orders are presently being taken for the purchase of bricks which are priced reasonably at $35 each, or 3 for $100. The pathway with engraved ordered bricks is expected to be presented on July 4, 2012.
For more information contact Larry Wapnick at 772 532 8749