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The American Legion Post 323 is holding a Four Chaplains Ceremony this Sunday, which the entire community is invited to attend to hear the stories of four brave men who died during World War II.

The four Army chaplains include Chaplain George L. Fox, Chaplain Alexander D. Goode, Chaplain Clark V. Poling and Chaplain John P. Washington.

“The chaplains got lazy and got comfortable out at sea. They took their life jackets off and then all of a sudden they were faced with the fear, this is it,” Deanna Hall, with the American Legion, said.

She said when they knew the U.S.A.T. Dorchester was going to sink, they tried to get as many men in lifeboats as they could and then gave their life jackets away, linked arms and went down with the ship.

“Every year the American Legion suggest that every Legion conduct a Four Chaplain Ceremony across the United States on the first Sunday of February,” Hall said. “You want the highest chaplain to attend the Four Chaplains Ceremony.”

The American Legion is very fortunate, as they have Barry Roberts, a member of the highest office in the Department of Florida American Legion chaplain, attending.

“On Feb. 3, 1943, the four chaplains demonstrated a living example of John 15:13, ‘Greater love has no man than this than a man lay down his life for his friends.'” Chaplain Roberts said in a prepared statement. “Their service and sacrifice demonstrated the condition of their hearts for loving God and loving others with the most personal sacrifice possible, their lives. We can learn much from the four chaplains, but first and foremost is their example of living their lives with an eternal perspective.”

 Hall said they started holding the Four Chaplains Ceremony in 2006. This year it will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, at the American Legion, Post 323, 1124 Ashlar Ave., Lehigh Acres. After the ceremony, subs will be served.

“We have four Legionnaires that represent each of the four chaplains that have sacrificed their life. The read the story of who the chaplain was, and light a candle,” she said. “It’s a moving and heartfelt ceremony. There is not a dry eye in the place.”

The ceremony is a tribute to courageous chaplains and the 672 brave young men who lost their lives on that fateful night, Feb. 3, 1943 when an enemy submarine fired a torpedo toward the U.S.A.T Dorchester, which exploded in the boiler room.

“This is one of my favorites just because it is about the four chaplains, about four individuals who nobody hardly heard about. The story is so magnificent about giving and it is amazing,” Hall said. “It’s an amazing ceremony and an amazing story about humility, selflessness and giving your life for others.”

She said the American Legion was chartered by the United States Congress in 1919.

“The whole thing is to service about self and to sacrifice our lives for our children, for veterans and get out there and into the community and demonstrate humility and selflessness. This one ceremony kind of depicts what the American Legion is all about,” Hall said.