American Legionnaire Shirl Snodgrass lights a candle in memory of the Four Chaplains.

During the height of World War II, Allied troop transport ship SS Dorchester was traveling in the North Atlantic near Newfoundland when it was struck by torpedoes fired by a German submarine. The attack took out the ship’s electrical system, and many men were trapped below decks. The crew’s four chaplains helped with the evacuation of the ship, and acted as a calming influence to the frightened sailors. The chaplains handed out life jackets and helped their fellows into lifeboats. Unfortunately, there were not enough jackets to go around, and the chaplains selflessly gave up their own jackets so that others might have a chance of survival. Making the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow sailors, the chaplains stayed on board the SS Dorchester, singing hymns as they went down with the ship.