Press Release: Monument to Fallen Jewish Chaplains visits Wilmington DE

Contact:

Rabbi Yair Robinson

Congregation Beth Emeth

300 W. Lea Blvd Wilmington DE 19802

302-764-2393

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monument to Fallen Jewish Chaplains Visits Wilmington DE

on the Road to Arlington National Cemetery

The community is welcome to a service as the memorial to fallen Jewish military chaplains visits Congregation Beth Emeth on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7pm.

The memorial will be passing through Wilmington on its way to Arlington.  Delaware is one of only 10 states where the memorial will stop prior to its formal dedication on October 24th at Arlington National Cemetery.

Congregation Beth Emeth, one of the many local Dignity Memorial providers, is proud to sponsor the new memorial to fallen Jewish military chaplains.

On Tuesday, October 18^th at 7pm , the memorial will be on display and commemorated with a special service featuring Rear Admiral (ret.) Rabbi Harold L. Robinson, former Deputy Chief of Chaplains for Reserve Matters for the US Navy, and current Director of the Jewish Welfare Board-Jewish Chaplains Council.

The monument will be formally dedicated on October 24 at Arlington National Cemetery.

The campaign to erect the Jewish chaplain’s memorial, initiated by Ken Kraetzer and jointly led by JWB Jewish Chaplains Council and Jewish Federations of North America, has taken several years to reach its successful conclusion and involved the concerted effort of many community organizations, including the Sons of the American Legion and Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed legislation permitting the construction of the new monument, which will be placed on Chaplains Hill next to similar memorials dedicated to Catholic, Protestant and World War I chaplains.

The October 24 ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. “We hope people from all over the country come to the dedication at Arlington,” said Rabbi Harold Robinson, director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council. “This is an extraordinary event for the Jewish community, and for anyone who is concerned that proper respect be paid to chaplains who died while on active duty. The American military chaplains’ corps is unique in its dedication and commitment to the diversity of religious expression in our armed forces.”

Before its formal dedication, the new monument will be displayed at different venues, allowing people who may not be able to visit Arlington to view it. The tour, sponsored by the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral providers, will travel over 3,000 miles and include stops in 10 states; South Carolina, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. National Funeral Home and Cemetery in Falls Church, Virginia, a local Dignity Memorial provider will break ground, lay the foundation, install the nearly 4,000 lbs. granite monument and install the solid bronze plaque prior to the dedication ceremony.

The day’s events on October 24 will begin with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 11:15 a.m. The Tomb of the Unknowns is located next to the Memorial Amphitheater. Full details are at www.jcca.org/jwb.

More than 250 American chaplains of all faiths have died while on active duty in the U. S. Armed Forces. In 1926, the chaplains who served in World War I erected the first Chaplains Monument at Arlington National Cemetery, dedicated to the memory of their 23 colleagues who gave their lives in that conflict. In 1981, a separate monument was erected to memorialize 134 Protestant chaplains who died in World Wars I and II. Eight years later, a similar memorial to 83 Catholic chaplains who died in World War II, Korea and Vietnam was consecrated on Chaplains Hill. Now, through the efforts of many individuals and organizations of all faiths, a memorial to the 14 Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty will stand alongside those of their Protestant and Catholic brethren.

The 14 Jewish chaplains include: (World War II) Rabbi Alexander Goode, Rabbi Herman L. Rosen, Rabbi Henry Goody, Rabbi Samuel D. Hurwitz, Rabbi Louis Werfel, Rabbi Irving Tepper, Rabbi Nachman S. Arnoff, Rabbi Frank Goldenberg; (Cold War Era) Rabbi Solomon Rosen, Rabbi Samuel Rosen; (Vietnam/S.E. Asia) Rabbi Meir Engel, Rabbi Joseph Hoenig, Rabbi Morton H. Singer and Rabbi David Sobel.

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