LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim February 3, 2015, as Four Chaplains Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, February 3, 2015, is the 72nd Anniversary of the sinking of the
United States Army transport Dorchester, an event that resulted in the
loss of nearly 700 lives in 1943 and for which witnesses have recounted
in the Congressional Record the heroism of Four Chaplains of different
faiths, Lieutenant George L. Fox, Methodist; Lieutenant Alexander D.
Goode, Jewish; Lieutenant John P. Washington, Catholic; and Lieutenant
Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed; and
WHEREAS, One of the four hereos, Lieutenant Alexander D. Goode was
born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 10, 1911; his father, Hyman Goodekow-
itz, was a prominent Brooklyn rabbi; and
WHEREAS, Each of the Four Chaplains was awarded the Purple Heart and
the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously; the citation of each
reads: "For extraordinary heroism in connection with military oper-
ations against an enemy of the United States. On the night of the 3rd of
February, 1943, a loaded troop transport was torpedoed, without warning,
by an enemy submarine in the North Atlantic and began to sink rapidly.
In the resulting confusion and darkness some men found themselves with-
out life jackets and others became helpless through fear and the dread
of plunging into the freezing water. These Four Chaplains heroically and
calmly moved about the deck, encouraging the men and assisting them to
abandon ship; after the available supply of life jackets was exhausted,
they gave up their own; they remained aboard ship and went down with it,
offering words of encouragement and prayers to the last"; and
WHEREAS, On the corner of Broad and Berks Streets in Philadelphia, in
the heart of Temple University, is the Chapel of the Four Chaplains; it
is a memorial to the Four Chaplains who went down on the S.S. Dorchester
during World War II; it is an interfaith shrine; in it are three remem-
brances, one for each faith -- Catholic, Jewish and Protestant; at the
entrance burns an eternal light which calls all to the unity these Four
Chaplains so heroically demonstrated; chiseled deep into the stone is
this dedication:
Chapel of Four Chaplains
An Interfaith shrine
Here is Sanctuary for Brotherhood
Let it never be violated; and
WHEREAS, On July 14, 1960, the United States Congress awarded a
special medal for valor, given in memory of the Four Chaplains, never to
be repeated; a memorial tribute to the Four Chaplains in the form of a
commemorative coin-medal was presented to the Chapel by the National
Commemorative Society; numerous stained glass windows, paintings, build-
ings and statues have been dedicated to the Four Chaplains; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that these Four
Chaplains, who removed their own life jackets and gave them to others to
save their lives and who were last seen arm-in-arm in prayer on the hull
of the ship, demonstrated a unique ecumenical spirit and love for their
fellow man and should never be forgotten; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 3, 2015, as
Four Chaplains Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York, and to the American Legion.