Chaplains Honored at Memorial Dedication Ceremony

Photo By Staff Sgt. Melissa Parrish | Chaplains from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines past and present, were honored at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific during the Chaplain Memorial Dedication, on Dec. 13, 2017, Honolulu.  

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

12.13.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Melissa Parrish 

U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office

Chaplains from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines past and present, were honored at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific during the Chaplains Memorial Dedication on Dec. 13, 2017, Honolulu.

Naturally, the dedication began with a prayer.

After two years of phone calls and piles of paperwork, Chaplain, Col. Richard “Dick” Stenbakken, United States Army (RET), Co-Chairman of the Chaplain Memorial Committee for the national Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, made this memorial a reality. Stenbakken donned a WWII captain’s uniform to the dedication.

Stenbakken said that the placement of this memorial is to honor every Chaplain across the Pacific from all branches of the military and multiple faiths, past and present.

“It is essential that we remember what chaplains have done in the past, what chaplains are doing now and that we look into the future,” Stenbakken said. “Chaplaincy is the core and the heart of the values in any military branch. This memorial is also a reminder to the community that the chaplains were there and are there for their family members that have served. I hope this will be an ongoing reminder of commitment for Chaplains. Their service has to be rock solid and grounded just like this memorial He spent two years making this happen and a reality.”

In honor of Chaplains fallen, Rabbi Irving A. Elson, Capt., U.S Navy (RET) and Director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council read the famous eulogy delivered by Rabbi Roland B Gittelsohn. The eulogy was given for those who died at Iwo Jima and was read into the US Congressional record in 1945.

“Here lie men who loved America because their ancestor’s generations ago helped in her founding. And other men who loved her with equal passion because they themselves or their own fathers escaped from oppression to her blessed shores. Here lie officers and men, black and white, rich men and poor, together. Here are Protestants, Catholics, and Jews together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith or despises him because of his color. Here there are no quotas of how many from each group are admitted or allowed. Among these men there is no discrimination. No prejudices. No hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy,” read by Elson.

In honor of the mission of the Chaplains, Maj. Gen. Paul Hurley, the Chief of chaplains of the US Army, was a guest speaker and reminded everyone of the importance of remembering the legacy of those that came before them in order to prepare for the mission ahead.

“This memorial is important,” Hurley said. “It is important to have a marker to remind us of what we are here for. As Chaplains, we are here to take care of the souls and spirits of Soldiers and their families. This memorial is for all Chaplains. This is for everyone. This is a reminder of our past and how important it is to what we are doing now.”

• Date Taken: 12.13.2017
• Date Posted: 12.13.2017 21:29
• Story ID: 258791
• Location: HONOLULU, HI, US