Thursday, May 27th 2004, 6:00 pm

Hyatt Regency Capitol
Washington D.C.


The 2004 Prize for Humanity



Honorees

World War II Chaplains

Father Joseph O'Callahan was the first military Chaplain to receive the Medal of Honor since the Civil War. His aircraft carrier, the USS Franklin ,was hit by two Japanese bombs on March 19, 1945. Father O'Callahan distinguished himself over a three-day period by saving and caring for injured and burned men, and providing spiritual solace for the dying. He also organized damage control parties and personally helped jettison live shells and ammunition saving many lives and the ship itself.

Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn was Chaplain assigned to the 5th Marine division during the battle of Iwo Jima in February and March 1945. Rabbi Gittelsohn, the first Jewish chaplain assigned to the Marine Corps, was in the thick of the fray, ministering to men of all faiths wherever he was needed. He received three service awards for his conduct under fire, and his moving eulogy for the dedication of the U.S.Marine’s cemetery on Iwo Jima has become a national prayer of compassion for the dead of all faiths.

        Pictured above from left to right, bottom row: Ben Epstein (Survivor of "Dorchester"), Alex Goode Fried (Grandson of Rabbi Alex Goode), Theresa Goode Fried (Widow of Chaplain Alex Goode), Jay O'Callahan (Nephew of Fr. Joseph O'Callahan, pictured behind Theresa Goode Fried) Maj.Gen. David Hicks (U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains), Donna Gittelsohn (Daughter-in-law of Rabbi Gittelsohn) Above: David Fox (Foundation Executive Director)

2004 Program

Welcome: Jim Roberts, President, World War II Veterans Committee
                  David Fox, Executive Director, Immortal Chaplains Foundation

Invocation: US Navy Chaplain Imam Abuhena Saiful-Islam

The Television Documentary, “Faith and Glory: The True Story of the Four Chaplains”, is a presentation of Faith & Values Media and is scheduled to air on The Hallmark Channel in the upcoming season. It was Directed by James Moll and Produced by Christopher Pavlick of Allentown Productions . Executive producers are Edward J.Murray,William Spencer Reilly and Jeffrey C.Weber for Faith & Values Media and Richard C. Berman and Brian K.Schlichter of Lancaster Gate Productions . Introduced by Jeff Weber, President & CEO of Lightworks Producing Group .

The 2004 Immortal Chaplains Prize for Humanity

Song “George, Alexander, Clark & John” written and sung by Ed Anderson

2004 Prize for Humanity Honorees – Presented by Chaplains’ Families, Dorchester Survivors, and Judge Barry Sax, Chair of the Immortal Chaplains Foundation.

Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn – Donna & Daniel Gittelsohn receiving

Fr Joseph O’Callahan – Jay O’Callahan receiving
Representatives of the Pentagon – for permanent placement in the Memorial Chapel: Maj. Gen. David Hicks

The Biography, “No Greater Glory— The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in World War II” by Dan Kurzman was researched and written by this award-winning writer and published by Random House . Mr.Kurzman is a former foreign correspondent for The Washington Post and has written 15 previous books including “ Fatal Voyage:The sinking of the USS Indianapolis”. This new book has been selected for four Book Club editions.

Benediction US Army Chaplain Eric Wester – Office of the Chief of Chaplains

Thank you Marlene Solomon – Associate Director of The Immortal Chaplains Foundation

Reception and Book Signing

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