Medina American Legion honors fallen WWII chaplains
Community pays tribute with speeches, hymns
Members of Medina’s American Legion Post 202 started the Four Chaplains remembrance ceremony with the presenting of the colors at the front of the church sanctuary. Photos by SCOTT KRISKA
Dr. David Tennant, of Medina United Methodist Church, was the first of five guest speakers at the ceremony. His speech honored Methodist Chaplain George Fox.
Vocalist Marian Vogel performed hymns in between the speeches at the ceremony. Ryan Neal (not pictured) accompanied her on piano and also joined her in singing some of the hymns.
Mayor Dennis Hanwell concluded the ceremony discussing the Medina community’s unity in faith.
MEDINA – Medina County community members visited the Medina United Church of Christ Feb. 1 to recognize and remember the sacrifices of four Army chaplains who gave their lives for others during World War II.
Medina’s American Legion Post 202 held a service at the church in remembrance of these four chaplains – one Methodist minister, one Jewish rabbi, one Dutch Reformed Church minister and one Catholic priest.
On Jan. 23, 1943, a coastal steamer called the U.S.A.T. Dorchester left New York Harbor transporting U.S. Army and Army Air Corps personnel and civilian passengers – a total of 902 people on board – to Greenland. Days later, an enemy German U-boat fired a torpedo into the Dorchester. In the ensuing chaos, all four chaplains helped to provide calm and comfort to the passengers.
“They helped them (the passengers) find life vests,” Medina American Legion Post 202 Commander David Taylor explained. “There was panic on the ship, but the chaplains did not panic. When it became apparent there were not enough life vests, then the chaplains gave their own life vests to others knowing they would face a watery grave.”
As they faced their imminent demise, the chaplains led the passengers around them in prayer and a hymn before the ship and 672 of its passengers sank.
At the remembrance ceremony, Medina American Legion Post 202 Chaplain C. Reid Miller led the way for several speakers honoring the heroic World War II chaplains. Dr. David Tennant, of the Medina United Methodist Church, honored Methodist Chaplain George Fox. Rabbi Stephen Grundfast, of Beth El Congregation in Akron, honored Jewish Chaplain Alexander Goode. Pastor David Wallover, of Harvest Presbyterian Church, honored Dutch Reformed Church Chaplain Clark Poling. The Rev. Joseph Loutzenhiser, of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, honored Catholic Chaplain John Washington.
At the end of the ceremony, Mayor Dennis Hanwell presented a speech in honor of the Medina community and its unity in faith. In his reflection, he emphasized the members of the city’s diverse community and their ability to come together through their loyalty to God.
In between the speeches, vocalist Marian Vogel and vocalist and pianist Ryan Neal performed hymns exemplifying the faith of the fallen chaplains and the sacrifice they made.
Taylor said he believes this ceremony was a way for the community to better understand the meaning of sacrifice.
“I think the sacrifice that the Four Chaplains gave is the spirit of sacrifice that we all need to give in our daily lives,” he said. “Most of us will not be asked to give our lives for others, but we can give ourselves to others in many different ways. We hope that citizens can look into their own hearts and see how they can serve others in the Medina community.”
Taylor explained the national American Legion organization has sponsored remembrance ceremonies of the Four Chaplains for many years and said while Medina’s American Legion post had not held such a ceremony for a number of years, the organization made an effort to bring it back as an annual ceremony to help the citizens of Medina to unite as a community.
Medina’s American Legion Post 202 held a service at the church in remembrance of these four chaplains – one Methodist minister, one Jewish rabbi, one Dutch Reformed Church minister and one Catholic priest.
On Jan. 23, 1943, a coastal steamer called the U.S.A.T. Dorchester left New York Harbor transporting U.S. Army and Army Air Corps personnel and civilian passengers – a total of 902 people on board – to Greenland. Days later, an enemy German U-boat fired a torpedo into the Dorchester. In the ensuing chaos, all four chaplains helped to provide calm and comfort to the passengers.
“They helped them (the passengers) find life vests,” Medina American Legion Post 202 Commander David Taylor explained. “There was panic on the ship, but the chaplains did not panic. When it became apparent there were not enough life vests, then the chaplains gave their own life vests to others knowing they would face a watery grave.”
As they faced their imminent demise, the chaplains led the passengers around them in prayer and a hymn before the ship and 672 of its passengers sank.
At the remembrance ceremony, Medina American Legion Post 202 Chaplain C. Reid Miller led the way for several speakers honoring the heroic World War II chaplains. Dr. David Tennant, of the Medina United Methodist Church, honored Methodist Chaplain George Fox. Rabbi Stephen Grundfast, of Beth El Congregation in Akron, honored Jewish Chaplain Alexander Goode. Pastor David Wallover, of Harvest Presbyterian Church, honored Dutch Reformed Church Chaplain Clark Poling. The Rev. Joseph Loutzenhiser, of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, honored Catholic Chaplain John Washington.
At the end of the ceremony, Mayor Dennis Hanwell presented a speech in honor of the Medina community and its unity in faith. In his reflection, he emphasized the members of the city’s diverse community and their ability to come together through their loyalty to God.
In between the speeches, vocalist Marian Vogel and vocalist and pianist Ryan Neal performed hymns exemplifying the faith of the fallen chaplains and the sacrifice they made.
Taylor said he believes this ceremony was a way for the community to better understand the meaning of sacrifice.
“I think the sacrifice that the Four Chaplains gave is the spirit of sacrifice that we all need to give in our daily lives,” he said. “Most of us will not be asked to give our lives for others, but we can give ourselves to others in many different ways. We hope that citizens can look into their own hearts and see how they can serve others in the Medina community.”
Taylor explained the national American Legion organization has sponsored remembrance ceremonies of the Four Chaplains for many years and said while Medina’s American Legion post had not held such a ceremony for a number of years, the organization made an effort to bring it back as an annual ceremony to help the citizens of Medina to unite as a community.
