Press release

Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser who has issued a “PROCLAMATION” establishing this first Sunday in February to be remembered and memorialized as “FOUR CHAPLAINS SUNDAY.” American Legion Post 181 Chaplain Benny Uhl, Adjutant David Robertson joined him for the presentation.” We are calling upon all local citizens to commemorate this day along with citizens throughout the land” said Chaplain Uhl.

These four men of God met at the Chaplains School at Harvard University. The oldest was 42, two were 32 each, and one was 30. These four men became good friends, each from a different faith. After graduation they joined the Army during World War II. They boarded the DORCHESTER a luxury liner, pressed into service as a troop transport ship, on January 23, 1943. The ship was filled to capacity of 902 lives, cast to the mercy of the frigid North Atlantic-and going through “Torpedo Junction,” on the way to a base in Greenland. Within 150 miles of Greenland, they received sonar readings that a German submarine was nearby. That night in the dark frigid sea the Dorchester was hit with several torpedoes. Great was the explosions and all power was knocked out. In the darkness four voices began to speak out, the voices of the four Chaplains, Fox, Goode, Poling, and Washington. The soldiers were all trying to get to the deck to get into the life boats. In as little as 20 minutes after the first torpedo hit the ship, the Dorchester was going down. The Four Chaplains were occupied opening lockers and passing out life preservers. The soldiers were still pressing to get off the ship and into the life boats. The lockers were empty – life preservers were gone. Then something Amazing happened. The Four Chaplains took off their life jackets and gave them to the men around them. As the soldiers drifted out into the sea in their life boats, that cold dark night, they heard the voices of the Chaplains, singing and praying, “Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done….” Looking back the men in the life boats could see the slanting deck of the Dorchester, it’s demise almost complete. They saw the four figures of the Chaplains as they stood braced together against the railing, praying, singing, and giving strength to others. Twenty-four minutes from the first torpedo hit the Dorchester; it disappeared beneath the cold North Atlantic waves, taking with it many men and the Four Chaplains of different faiths who found strength in their diversity by focusing on the love for God and mankind. TRULY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL TO DUTY.

The Colonel Crawford Legion Post 181 has resolved to forever remember FOUR CHAPLAINS SUNDAY on the annual anniversary of the 1st Sunday in February.

Mayor Reser also signed a proclamation in conjunction with The American Legion declaring the week of February 12-18 as “Religious Emphasis Week” encouraging citizens to take time to observe this special week in the practice of the Faith of their choice.