photos credit: Louise Stack
The Four Chaplains
83rd Anniversary Memorial Service
Sunday, February 1, 2026
1:00 PM
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center Chapel
5000 W. National Avenue
Milwaukee, WI. 53295
Order of Service
Prelude
St. Adalbert Parish
SERVICE MEDLEY
Apóstles En Acción
photo credit: Loise Stack
POSTING OF COLORS
Craig Ellis, Commander
American Legion, 5th District
National Anthem
Apóstles En Acción
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
(uncover until Benediction)
Andrew Minch
Commander American Legion
4th District
INVOCATION
VA Chaplain
Clement J. Zablocki
VA Medical Center
CHORAL OFFERING
Apóstles En Acción
America The Beautiful
Let There be Peace on Earth
THE FOUR CHAPLAINS STORY
Julia Atkinson
Chaplain
American Legion
1st District
SCRIPTURE READING
VA Chaplain
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Robert W. Allen
Chief of Chaplain Service
Clement J. Zablocki
VA Medical Center
CHORAL OFFERING
Apóstles En Acción
Eternal Father Strong to Save
God Bless America
OFFERING
Julia Atkinson
1st District
American Legion Post 495
BENEDICTION
(cover after Benediction)
Paul McNally
Milwaukee County Commander
TAPS
RETIRING OF COLORS
Craig Ellis, Commander
American Legion 5th District
CLOSING REMARKS
Julia Atkinson
American Legion
1st District
HONOR GUARD
American Legion Post 434
Oak Creek
photo credit: Louis Stack
THE STORY OF THE FOUR CHAPLAINS
DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVE AND HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
IN WAR AND PEACE
Early on the morning of February 3 rd , 1943, the U.S. Troop transport “Dorchester” was wallowing through icy sea off the coast of Greenland. Most of the 900 troops on board were asleep in their bunks. Suddenly, a torpedo smashed into the Dorchester’s flank. Frantically, pounding up the ladders, the troops milled in confusion on the decks.
In those dark moments of panic, the calmest men abord were four U.S. Army Chaplains – First Lieutenants Clark V. Poling (Reformed Church of America), Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), John P. Washington (Catholic) and George L. Fox (Methodist). The four Chaplains led the men to boxes of life jackets and passed them out to the men with boat- drill precision. When the boxes were empty, the four Chaplains quietly slipped off their own precious life preserves, put them on four young GI’s and told them to jump.
The Dorchester went down 25 minutes later in a rumble of steam. Some 600 men were lost, but the heroic Chaplains had helped save over 200. The last anyone saw of them they were standing on the slanting deck, their arms linked, in prayer, to the one God they all served.
The altruistic action of the Chaplains constitutes on the purest spiritual and ethical acts a person can make. They did not distinguish one religion from another. They simply gave their life jackets to the next man in line.
The heroic sacrifices of the Four Chaplains has been immortalized through the work of the “Chapel of the Four Chaplain” located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Dedicated on February 3 rd , 1951, the Chapel reaches out to all corners of the world spreading the story of the Chaplain in an attempt to bring unity to humanity, without uniformity. For more information on the courageous story of the Four Chaplains, to www.homeofheros.com/brotherhood/chaplains. You can also read about then in Chicken Soup for the Veterans Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.
This is the 63 rd anniversary of the Four Chaplains Memorial Service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sponsored by the American Legion, 1st , 4th and 5th Districts. The first observances were held February 3 rd , 1963. A brunch will be served after the service put on by the 4 th and 5 th District Auxiliary.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
I Pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
O say! can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight.
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say! does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?
