Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation honors the selfless acts that our fallen patriots and their families have practiced. Soldiers that have died in the line of duty acted on the ultimate selfless act, sacrificing their lives for our continued freedom. A day to honor selfless acts is known as Four Chaplains Day, celebrated on February 3rd.
In November, 1942 four young men "found each other" while attending Chaplain's School at Harvard University. A common cause brought them together, the desire to serve their Nation during the critical years of World War II. Their close bond might easily have marked them as "The Four Chaplains" long before a fateful night three months after they first met, when their actions would forever make the title last with the names of George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington.
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation Remembers Four Chaplains
They gave up their life jackets and prayed together when their transport ship, the U.S.A.T Dorchester was torpedoed 80 miles south of Greenland on February 3, 1943. The Chaplains came from different faiths and backgrounds.
Of the 920 men who left New York on the U.S.A.T. Dorchester on January 23rd, only 230 were rescued from the icy waters by rescue craft. In addition to the Four Chaplains, 668 other men passed away on this sad day. Had it not been for the Chaplains, the number dead would have certainly been much higher.
The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation’s vision is to impart the principles of selfless service to humanity without regard to race, creed, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. Fallen Patriots continues to act on the Four Chaplains vision by striving to ensure a future college education for surviving military children whose parents died due to their selfless service.