Proclamation 3169—Dorchester Day, 1957

Whereas February 3, 1957, marks the fourteenth anniversary of the sinking of the Army transport Dorchester by enemy action off the coast of Greenland; and

Whereas four Army chaplains—a Methodist minister, a minister of the Reformed Church, a Roman Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi—led those on board the vessel in prayer, and gave their own lifejackets to others, creating a saga of faith and heroism that will long remain an inspiration to all who believe in God and love their country; and

Whereas the Distinguished Service Cross, for services beyond the call of duty, was awarded posthumously to each of these four men of religion, George L. Fox, of Gilman, Vermont, Methodist; Alexander D. Goode, of York, Pennsylvania, Jewish; Clark V. Poling, of Schenectady, New York, Reformed Church in America; and John P. Washington, of Newark, New Jersey, Roman Catholic; and

Whereas the Congress, by House Concurrent Resolution 90, agreed to by the Senate on January 30, 1957, has set apart the third day of February 1957 as a day dedicated to the memory of these four chaplains, and of other brave men who died on the Dorchester:

Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby direct the appropriate officials to arrange for the display of the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on Dorchester Day, February 3 1957; and I call upon the people of the United States to observe that day in churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies, in commemoration of the heroic conduct and the deaths of the four chaplains and other brave men who lost their lives in the sinking of the Dorchester.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this second day of February in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-first.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

By the President:

JOHN FOSTER DULLES,

Secretary of State