Monument to fallen Jewish chaplains visits Hanscom

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Hanscom community is invited to preview a memorial honoring fallen Jewish military chaplains during a tour stop at the base Exchange Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The monument will be formally dedicated on Oct. 24 at Arlington National Cemetery and is currently taking an east coast tour to locations such as military installations, state houses and synagogues.

"We're very excited to host this memorial at Hanscom," said Ch. (Capt.) Mike Gorton, from the Hanscom Chapel. "Chaplains from all faiths provide help and comfort to those in need in times of peace and definitely in times of war. We're happy to be a small part of finally honoring these men who paid the ultimate price."

Before its formal dedication, the new monument will be displayed at different venues, allowing people who may not be able to visit Arlington to view it. The tour will travel more than 3,000 miles and includes stops in South Carolina, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The campaign to erect the Jewish chaplain's memorial was initiated by Ken Kraetzer and jointly led by JWB Jewish Chaplains Council and Jewish Federations of North America. It has taken several years to reach its conclusion and involved the effort of many community organizations, including the Sons of the American Legion and Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance.

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed legislation permitting the construction of the new monument, which will be placed on Chaplains Hill next to similar memorials dedicated to Catholic, Protestant and World War I chaplains.

More than 250 American chaplains of all faiths have died while on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 1926, the chaplains who served in World War I erected the first Chaplains Monument at Arlington National Cemetery, dedicated to the memory of their 23 colleagues who gave their lives in that conflict.

In 1981, a separate monument was erected to memorialize 134 Protestant chaplains who died in World War I and II. Eight years later, a similar memorial to 83 Catholic chaplains who died in World War II, Korea and Vietnam was placed on Chaplains Hill.

Now, through the efforts of many individuals and organizations of all faiths, a memorial to the 14 Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty will stand alongside those of their Protestant and Catholic brethren.

"For those that can't make it to Arlington, we hope they will take the opportunity to preview this memorial here," said 1st Lt. Daniel Fain, the Jewish lay leader for Hanscom. "It not only honors Jewish chaplains, but all veterans."

The Oct. 24 ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.

For further information, call the Base Chapel at 781-377-3538.