Senate Resolution 217 Printer's Number 1409

PENNSYLVANIA, January 30 - PRINTER'S NO. 1409

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

217

Session of

2026

INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS-HILL, PITTMAN, KEEFER, TARTAGLIONE,

J. WARD, BROOKS, MASTRIANO, LAUGHLIN, CULVER, FONTANA,

ARGALL, HUTCHINSON, VOGEL AND KANE, JANUARY 30, 2026

REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JANUARY 30, 2026

A RESOLUTION

Designating February 3, 2026, as "Four Chaplains Day" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, On January 11, 1943, the United States Army

Transport Dorchester sailed from New York to Greenland carrying

more than 900 soldiers, merchant marines and civilian support

forces; and

WHEREAS, Shortly after midnight on February 3, 1943, the

Dorchester was struck by a torpedo fired without warning from a

German U-boat patrolling the North Atlantic, instantly killing

100 men and cutting off power and radio communication with

escort ships; and

WHEREAS, In the 20 minutes before the ship sank, four Army

chaplains, Lieutenants George L. Fox (Methodist), Alexander D.

Goode (Jewish), John P. Washington (Roman Catholic) and Clark V.

Poling (Dutch Reformed), comforted the dying, encouraged the

living, guided survivors to lifeboats and gave up their own life

jackets to men who had none, sacrificing their own lives for

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