And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier’s tomb, and beauty weeps the brave. ~ Joseph Rodman Drake

Memorial Day means different things to different people. Some do not realize it is a day to honor those that have given their lives in defense of our country. We come together with family and friends and celebrate a long weekend with camping, cookouts, mini-vacay’s and tons of food and all of that is good! (Well, most of it is good, some of it we want to forget). But relaxing is a good thing and a great stress reliever. There is nothing wrong with the cookouts, picnics and apple pie.

But can we be reminded of those that have bought us this freedom with their very own lives? Let me bring to your memory, or introduce you afresh, to some that literally gave all not too long ago that we might enjoy this beautiful holiday as a free people.

Beauty weeps the Brave: The story of The SS Dorchester

The SS Dorchester was a U.S. passenger ship that launched officially March 20, 1926. It was a luxury liner that carried passengers between Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston. When I say luxury, for a ship that was built almost 100 years ago, it was quite different than those of today but check this out: They had electric fans and telephones in every room and they were even equipped to send wireless messages! Not quite as high tech as Facetime and text messaging but hey, for a century ago it was pretty fancy.

When the United States entered WWII, the SS Dorchester, like most passenger ships, was converted to carry troops. More lifeboats and life jackets were added, and some necessary artillery, such as four 20mm guns, one 3-inch 50-caliber gun (fore), and one 4-inch 50-caliber gun (aft). When she was relaunched on January 24, 1942, she was capable of carrying 906 passengers and crew. Quite a jump from the 350 or so she normally carried as a luxury liner.

On January 22, 1943, she sat sail for Greenland with troops for replacement, carrying 902 total passengers. Since it was possible that they could be attacked at any moment by the Germans, the captain insisted that everyone was to keep their life vests on at all times, even while sleeping. That was difficult to do as the vests were so bulky and many of the troops did not comply.

On February 2, the crew detected a submarine but couldn’t pinpoint its position. They were only 150 miles from Greenland and by morning they would have air cover from the American base. Everyone was edgy and found it almost impossible to sleep. Trying to help comfort the passengers were four chaplains on board: Lt. George L. Fox, a Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, who was Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Reformed.  The four walked through the ship trying to calm and reassure everyone that morning would soon come and they even passed out soda crackers for those with nervous stomachs and seasickness.

Unfortunately, at around 1 a.m. on February 3, a torpedo struck, hitting the boiler room and panic ensued. The fierce explosion spewed clouds of steam and ammonia gas and thrust the ship into darkness. Fourteen lifeboats were available on board but in the panic only two were actually launched into the water. Many were still trapped below but those who made it to the top were so dazed and confused they didn’t know what to do and most had left their life jackets in their bunks.

Enter the chaplains, who were doing their best to hurry the men toward the lifeboats and urging them to abandon the ship which was sinking fast. They found a locker of life jackets and passed those out and when they ran out, the four men of God took off their own life jackets and gave those away.

In less than 20 minutes, the SS Dorchester was sinking to be seen no more. Only 230 of the 903 passengers were rescued.  Hundreds perished in the frigid water. As for those that survived,  many survivors told the same story of the four chaplains: “As I swam away from the ship, I looked back. The flares had lighted everything. The bow came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. I did not see them again. They themselves did not have a chance without their life jackets.” Survivor Grady Clark

President Ronald Reagan, once said,

Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.

Those four men, and thousands upon thousands of others acted as if they were unafraid and have literally given their lives in times of war for our country and our freedoms that we cherish.  Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 ESV. We can never repay them, or their families, for giving the ultimate sacrifice but we can remember them and honor them on their special day, Memorial Day.

President Bill Clinton set aside 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day as a National Moment of Remembrance. In 2000, he asked, “…Americans everywhere, to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day, to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all.”

Records tell us that since 1775, 1.8 million have given their lives for our country. 1.8 million!

As the Church, we mourn with those who mourn and weep with those who weep. If you have lost a mother, father, sister, brother, grandparent, husband, wife, son or daughter in combat, we pray for you today that God will comfort you in your great loss. And we salute the fallen in great tribute for the ultimate sacrifice they gave for those that remain and this great country that they served.

Salute. Celebrate, yes, remember, most definitely. Have a blessed Memorial Day.