The Four Chaplains
On Feb. 21, 2021, District 24 held its virtual Four Chaplains program to honor the four chaplains who gave their lives to save others on the sinking USS Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943.
This year, due to Covid-19, the District could not hold the event in person, so they pivoted — and produced a video which was shown at the virtual meeting. District 24 and Post 43 Chaplain Donna Callaway led the project, and Sons Squadron 43 Commander Ryan Pratt, Vice Commander Chad McMurray, and Sons Squadron 2 member Matt Kiddie made it into a beautiful and memorable video.
Even in the midst of uncertain times, District 24 was able to use this situation and program to unify the posts in the district and all parts of the legion family — with members from almost every post, veterans/members of many eras, branches, ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds — reflecting the unity of the four chaplains.
The video features chaplains from many of the posts in District 24, including chaplains from post 43 (Donna Callaway, Jimmy Weldon, and Jim Bentley), 283 (Joe Ramirez), 46 (Dino Davis), 109 (Sylvester Shigg), and Sons Squadron 43 (Eric Swelstad) . It has been Chaplain Donna’s goal to bring together the chaplains of the district for this program — and with the help of District 24 Commander Jere Romano, and the commanders of the posts in the district, it was made possible.
The video also includes officers and members of the Legion, Sons, Auxiliary, and Riders, as well as the Los Angeles County Council and LA National Cemetery, in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Hollywood Post 43 member Jimmy Weldon
The video wraps up with a joyful surprise at the end featuring beloved Chaplain Emeritus of post 43, Jimmy Weldon, who is a veteran of WWII and helped liberate the Buchenwald Concentration Camp with Patton’s Third Army. He is a national treasure that you do not want to miss, and all of the participants bring something special, so make sure to watch the whole thing!
The production shoot happened at historic Hollywood Post 43, thanks to Commander Jennifer Campbell and Adjutant Dianna Wilson, and followed COVID-19 safety protocols.
District 24 made this a program that not only unified the Legion Family in the district, but can be watched by anyone who wants to view the program, even if they couldn’t access it live at the virtual meeting.
You can view the video at the Youtube channel: “Hollywood Post 43 Media & Communication.”
The video is titled “California District 24 presents: The Four Chaplains Program” and it can be watched at this direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heM_qG0nsC4
More information about the Four Chaplains can be found on a video Post 283 Chaplain Joe Ramirez created a few years ago, titled “Unsinkable Sacrifice,” which is available on Youtube channel: “American Legion 283” and at this direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuArGT8I2k, and at the website for The Chapel of the Four Chaplains: www.fourchaplains.org. Both are mentioned at the end of the District 24 Four Chaplains Program video as well.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” -John 15:13
Author: Donna Callaway
Chaplain of District 24 and Post 43
