Four Chaplains Day

Four Chaplains Day for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Friday, February 3rd. There are until the next observance.

Every year on February 3, Four Chaplains Day is celebrated to honor four Army chaplains who showed courage and kindness on a sinking ship.

📆 When is Four Chaplains Day?

This year, Four Chaplains Day is on February 3rd. It is the 1st Friday in February; in 2024, it is on Saturday.

→ Did you know: The ship was originally built in 1926 as a cruise ship carrying 230 people from Baltimore to Florida.

You can also view all fascinating things you didn’t know about and facts about February 3, 2023.

📜 History of Four Chaplains Day

The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation was established to promote interfaith cooperation and a spirit of service among people in remembrance of their heroism and guided by the principle of non-discrimination against anybody based on their religion. In 1944, the United States government gave them the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross medals. They were also nominated for the highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, but they did not qualify since they had not participated in actual combat with the enemy. As an appropriate replacement, Congress established the “Special Medal for Heroism.”

Since the bombing on February 3, 1943, military groups and clubs all over the country have celebrated Four Chaplains Day. In 1998, to mark the 55th anniversary of the tragedy, the Senate passed a resolution making Four Chaplains Day an official holiday.

☑️ Four Chaplains Day facts

✅ Three of the four were boy scouts
Rabbi Goode, Reverend Poling, and Father Washington were all Boy Scouts of America members.

✅ There is a commemorative stamp
The United States Postal Service made a rare commemorative stamp in 1948, just five years after the four chaplains had died.

✅ An interfaith chapel was established
In 1951, President Truman established the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in the basement of Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

✨ Things to do on Four Chaplains Day

⚡ Learn about the incident
Although the events of February 3, 1943 were terrible, they were also inspirational because of the activities of the Four Chaplains, who are remembered by many as having offered hope and relief among the unfortunate warriors who feared for their lives. By giving life jackets to people who needed them, they did something brave that will go down in the history of the country.

⚡ Get involved with the foundation
The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation was established to raise awareness of the importance of interfaith understanding and selfless service. “Unity without uniformity.” is their motto. They put on a number of events and keep an up-to-date website with information about those events and how you can help by doing volunteer work.

⚡ Spread awareness of humanitarian service
There are several humanitarian groups around the country, with a substantial number operating on a global scale, assisting those in need due to prejudice. It’s a worthwhile activity to educate people who would listen about the unfairness that exists and to start discussions about what we can do in our capacity to solve such situations.

📅 Four Chaplains Day Observances

You can view all February holidays, including Special Interest and other Appreciation holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Four Chaplains Day. So be sure to check back soon.