Ceremonies at the White House today marked the issuance of an “interfaith in action” three-cent stamp commemorating the death of four chaplains–a rabbi, a Catholic priest, and two Protestant ministers–when their ship, the Dorchester, was torpedoed in the North Atlantic on February 3 1943.
President Truman, addressing a group of 400 persons who gathered in the White House Rose Garden for the ceremony, pointed out that three faiths had been represented on the sinking ship–that took place on the Dorchester. “The greatest sermon that ever was preached is right here on this stamp,” he said.
Representatives of the families of the chaplains–Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Father John P. Washington, Rev. George L. Fox, and Rev. Clark V. Poling–received the first issues of the stamp from Postmaster General Jesse Donaldson.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
