The Four Chaplains Memorial of York County is best known for its annual breakfast, where we honor the sacrifice of the Four Chaplains by recognizing local leaders who live by their values and continue their legacy by awarding students from the Rabbi Alexader D. Goode Elementary School with scholarships that impact their future. Your charitable contributions to our mission help fund our scholarship
, which has helped students go on to pursue an education - a strong foundation for a life in which they can give of themselves for the betterment of others. Washington was a Catholic Priest from Kearny, New Jersey, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode was a native of York, Pennsylvania. Poling was a minister in the Reformed Church in America at the First Reformed Church in Schenectady, New York. Fox, a decorated World War One veteran, was a Methodist minister in Gilman, Vermont. The Reverend Daniel Poling, in honor of his son Chaplain Poling’s heroism, began the movement to celebrate the Four Chaplains acts of courage. The organization was dedicated on February 3, 1951 by President Harry S. In his dedication speech, the President said, “This interfaith shrine… will stand through long generations to teach Americans that as men can die heroically as brothers so should they live together in mutual faith and goodwill.”
For more than sixty years the Chapel of the Four Chaplains has told the story of their faith, courage and interfaith cooperation through a variety of programs and events. One important program publicly recognizes and honors outstanding members of society whose lives model the giving spirit and unconditional service to community, nation, and humanity without regard to race, religion, or creed exemplified so dramatically by the Four Chaplains. The story of the Four Chaplain’s includes not only the background of the Chaplains, their interfaith cooperation, and their selfless sacrifice but it also includes the memories of the close to seven hundred lives lost that day, the stories of the survivors, the bravery of the rescuers and those who are inspired even today. We may never be asked to give up our own life jacket to save another person, but the story of the Four Chaplains can inspire us to reach out a helping hand in a time of need.
