YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Construction on the Veteran's Memorial in York will begin in 2025.
Leaders of the Veteran's Memorial Project provided an update on the project on Monday, Sept. 30. The organizer's mission is to create a memorial honoring the four chaplains while revitalizing the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park.
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.
Organizers say they aim to raise $1 million to make the project happen. They've reportedly nearly reached the halfway point at $450,000.
"We want to make this Veteran's Memorial Park a reverend place for our veterans, so that when York Countians have their families come visit, they realize that York Countians take care of their veterans," said Susan Byrnes the co-chair for the Veteran's Memorial Project.
Construction on the project is expected to get underway on Memorial Day next year, with the hopes of finishing on Memorial Day 2026.
Those interested in donating to the project can find more information here.