This post was scheduled last Sunday to celebrate Easter and Passover, but the change to my new website deleted it. I still want to share it.

Both Easter and Passover–-as well as other religious holidays–celebrate great courage, the courage of Jesus who died without compromising his beliefs or faith, and the courage of the Israelites who followed Moses to the Promised Land. So many religious leaders have shown enormous courage in the face of adversity, and a story that has long inspired me is this true story about four very special military chaplains.

Rev. George Fox, a Methodist minister, Rabbi Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi, John Washington, a Roman Catholic priest, and Clark Poling, a Reformed Church in America minister served as chaplains in the Army during World War II and became close friends.

In January 1943 they sailed together on the USAT Dorchester with 900 soldiers and sailors. In the early morning hours of  February 3rd, the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine.

The four chaplains calmed everyone in the darkness and helped them find their way on deck, handed out life jackets, and assisted men into lifeboats. When they ran out of life jackets, all four chaplains gave theirs.

When no more room was available in the life boats, the four men stayed on board, held hands, and sang hymns as the ship went down.

The four chaplains lived their faith and continue to give hope long after their deaths. A Memorial Foundation in their name advocates for and honors people whose deeds symbolize their legacy. May they never be forgotten.

You can find more about the Four Chaplains here.