Veterans mark WWII act of interfaith bravery

immortalchaplains.org

Stained glass window from the Chapel at the Pentagon.

A group of veterans plans to gather at the Queen Mary in Long Beach tomorrow to commemorate an act of bravery during World War II.

Seven decades ago, the “four immortal chaplains” became popular heroes. Two Protestant ministers, a Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi traveled with troops on a ship near Greenland during World War II. A German submarine struck the ship, and as it sank the chaplains gave up their lifejackets to others. Eyewitnesses say they last saw the four with their arms locked in prayer. Six hundred people died that night.

Jamie Brownlee of Christian Vanguard University, in Costa Mesa said students and campus administrators plan to honor the chaplains at the Queen Mary. "Different religions have fought and fought and fought, and this is a moment when it wasn’t about that at all. It was about pulling together," she said.

The Four Immortal Chaplains Foundation organized the memorial. It is open to the public at the Queen Mary’s Interfaith Sanctuary.