YORK COUNTY, Pa. — On Feb. 23, 1943, at 1 a.m. the S.S. Dorchester was struck by the Germans during World War II. The ship was transporting U.S. Troops from New York to Greenland.
There were 902 people on board; 230 people survived and 674 died.
Four of the dead were chaplains of different faiths.
"I think they represented the unity that was necessary during the war years," said Gordon Freireich, the founder of Four Chaplains Memorial of York.
The four chaplains, also known as immortal chaplains, helped soldiers get on lifeboats and even gave up their own life jackets when they ran out.
The four men, George Fox, a Methodist minister from Lewistown, Mifflin County; Clark Poling, a reformed church minister; John Washington, a Catholic priest; and Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi who left his pulpit at York's Temple Beth Israel, linked arms as the ship went down, saying prayers and singing hymns.
Alexander Goode's grandson, Alexander Goode Fried, says it's an honor to share his grandfather's name.
"I get goosebumps," he told FOX43. "I'm honored to have a small connection to that. I do what I can to convey the message and bring it into today's context."
"I often question myself, if placed in that situation, would I have the strength to make that same level of sacrifice?" Fried continued. "I feel blessed I've never been faced with those kinds of life choices.
Fried and his family say it's great to see his grandfather's legacy live on in York. There's an elementary school named in his honor and the local group created to recognize all four chaplains.
"I think it speaks volumes for the community of York and the way they mourned when the Dorchester was sunk, the importance of conveying the message to that next generation," he said.
Watch the full interview with Fried below:
Since the early 90s, The Four Chaplains Memorial of York County has honored the sacrifice of men made through the Legion of Honor program, which recognizes people in the community for their acts of volunteerism and sacrifice.
This year's nominees, Samantha Dorm, Tina Charles and Jenny Dejesus Marshall, have been integral parts of the Friends of Lebanon Cemetary and the renovation of York County's historic African American burial grounds.
The honorees led other volunteers in finding and refurbishing the headstones of African American veterans, uncovering nearly 800 flat markers.
Cemetary volunteers are still working to uncover more graves, as they've been doing since 2019.
Their efforts will be honored at the Four Chaplains of York County Prayer Breakfast taking place Wednesday, May 8. Students from five York County school districts will be in attendance. Also at the breakfast, the group gives a scholarship to a student who attended the Alexander Goode Elementary School in York.