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Four Chaplains Day falls on Wednesday, February 3, 2027. That is 99 days away.

Four Army chaplains were aboard the troop transport Dorchester when a German submarine torpedoed it in the cold North Atlantic during World War II. As the ship went down, the chaplains helped soldiers toward the lifeboats, handed out life jackets, and when the supply ran out, gave away their own. They stayed on the sinking ship.

The four men came from different faiths. George L. Fox was a Methodist minister, Alexander D. Goode was a rabbi, Clark V. Poling was a minister in the Reformed Church in America, and John P. Washington was a Catholic priest. Survivors later described seeing them on the slanting deck with their arms linked, praying together as the ship went under. Most of the men on board did not survive.

The day is usually marked quietly. Veterans' groups, American Legion posts and some houses of worship hold short memorial services, read the chaplains' names, and tell the story of that night. Some communities lower flags or ring a bell four times. Others simply share the account with people who have never heard it.

The story has lasted partly because it is so plain. There was a shortage of life jackets, and four men decided who would get theirs. A stained glass window and a postage stamp have honored them, and the image most people remember is still the same one: four figures standing close together on the deck of a ship in freezing water.

Ways to celebrate

• Attend a local memorial service held by a veterans' group or congregation.
• Read the four chaplains' names aloud with family or friends.
• Share the story of the Dorchester with someone who has not heard it.
• Display a flag at home in their memory.
• Write a note of thanks to a military chaplain or veteran.

Dates

All national days on February 3

Also on February 3

• National Carrot Cake Day
• National Golden Retriever Day
• Feed the Birds Day
• The Day the Music Died

Categories: Commemorative daysHistory days