February 2, 2017                                                                                         

Governor Dayton Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Immortal Four Chaplains Day

ST. PAUL, MN – In observance of the 74th Anniversary of the tragic sinking of the United States Army transport Dorchester off the coast of Greenland, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all U.S. Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Friday, February 3, 2017.

Individuals, businesses, and other organizations also are encouraged to lower their flags in observance of the anniversary on Friday, February 3, 2017, at the time of their choosing.

In 1957, the U.S. Congress established national observance of the tragedies anniversary to honor the four chaplains of difference faiths whose heroic and selfless acts that day saved the lives of many men. The Governor’s proclamation notes that Immortal Four Chaplains Day encourages all Minnesotans to express “compassion for those of different races or faiths.”

Witnesses of the event in 1943 recounted the heroic actions of Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed. During the 18 minutes the transport was sinking, the four chaplains went soldier to soldier to calm fears and hand out lifejackets. When there were no more lifejackets left to hand out, the four chaplains removed their own life vests and selflessly gave them to soldiers in need of protection. The four chaplains went down with the ship, arm-in-arm in prayer.

The chaplains’ unique interfaith spirit and love for their fellow men was memorialized by the United States Postal Service on a postage stamp titled “These Immortal Chaplains – Interfaith in Action.”

A copy of the Governor’s proclamation can be found here.

Flags at Half-Staff In keeping with appropriate flag etiquette and U.S. Code, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton may order the state flag to be flown at half-staff under very limited circumstances. He may also order the national flag to be flown at half-staff on state property only. A state flag on state property is required by law to be flown at half-staff if the national flag is flown at half-staff.

                           Office of Governor Mark Dayton •  www.mn.gov/governor