Artist Statement: On February 2, 2018, a Monument to The Four Immortal Chaplains and All Chaplains was dedicated at the Veterans Center and Memorial Park on Merritt Island, FL and blessed by The Rev. Scott Holcombe of St David’s Episcopal Church. Present at the ceremony was a representative of The Four Immortal Chaplains Memorial Foundation in Philadelphia. The Monument was endorsed and certified by the Foundation - the first to be accepted by the Foundation in seven years. The project was designed by Jeanne Harris Weaver. It was cast by American Bronze in Sanford, FL.
The Monument is in the shape of an obelisk. The front side depicts a bronze image of the Four Chaplains of The Dorchester. The other three sides depict information and images dealing with faith, honor, hope, despair and humanity during times of War.
On February 3, 1943, a former luxury coastal liner, Army transport ship “Dorchester” slid beneath the waves of the North Atlantic. A total of 672 men perished; but 230 survived. The ship was bound for Greenland carrying Army troops eventually intended to proceed to WWII battlefields. A German U-Boat ended that voyage with a well aimed torpedo. Among those who died were four Army Chaplains of different faiths who came together to bring hope and peace that cold, terrifying night. The Rabbi gave up his gloves saying he had two pairs. The Catholic and Protestant Chaplains opened up lockers to hand out life jackets. In the end they locked arms and gave up their own life jackets. Thus, through their actions, prayer and encouraging words they inspired many. They became an enduring example of extraordinary faith, courage and selflessness. The four Chaplains were LT George L Fox, LT Alexander D. Goode, LT John P. Washington and LT Clark V Poling.
In 1944 they were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart. In 1961 a special medal for Heroism for these Chaplains was decreed by Congress and the President.
A second side of the Monument speaks to other Chaplains during other wars. A Chaplain during the Civil War spoke of one of his soldiers: “ We were to assault the enemy in his stronghold. One of the boys, who was a brave soldier, came to tell me that he had a strong conviction. If he went into battle he would be killed, and asked me what to do. He had been clearly converted, but had let go his hold on Christ. I said: ‘You go down that ravine and pray till you get tremendously blessed, and come to me again, and if you then want to be excused, I will see your Captain and get you off’. He went into the battle and came out without a scratch.”
A Vietnam Chaplain spoke of a Christmas day: “ On Christmas day the Marines participated in a chaplain arranged Father For A Day program. The Vietnamese children were treated to dinner in the mess hall, presented with Christmas gifts, and then joined in singing carols with the Marines. The Chaplain gave the orphanage a gift of $800 donated by the Marines.”
In Afghanistan a Chaplain spoke of the gifts of love given by a lost soldier at his Boot Memorial: “Today we mourn the loss of our leader - truly a servant leader. A great void is left. Even greater than the void is the richness he gave to us. His smile, his courage, his compassion and wisdom. He was faithful to us to the very end. God will be faithful to him. When we come to the point where we say I’ve had enough; may we always seek to be faithful to each other as he was to us, and to live in the hope that we are not alone.”
The United States first chaplain was commissioned on July 29, 1775 by Gen. George Washington. Over 100 faiths and all major religions are represented by chaplains who must also be approved by their religious order. The role of the chaplain is to remind others, and perhaps ourselves as well, to cling to our humanity even in the worst of times. That role brings not only a message of what is divine, but also of what it means to be truly human.
Bio: Jeanne has a BA from Florida Atlantic University. In addition she studied oil painting for three years under the direction of realist artist, James Warrick Jones. In 2017, she received an Honorary Degree from the College of William and Mary for her accomplishments creating a lasting legacy through her published book and the series of paintings in memory of her son Todd (KIA, 2010). She is Resident Artist at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Cocoa Beach, Fl. and sits on the Church Vestry. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Episcopal Church Visual Arts. Ms. Weaver has created two series of paintings for St. David’s by the Sea, Cocoa Beach, FL: The Stations of the Cross and Those Who Minister To Christ. She has also designed four monuments in Brevard County, the most recent being The Monument To The Fallen at the V.A. Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Scottsmoor, FL.
In 2021, Jeanne began studying the history and techniques of Byzantine Iconography as well as “writing” icons, which she has found challenging and gratifying. She enjoys sharing the ancient and spiritual art in workshops and classes through the St. David’s Institute.
Jeanne continues to be a student of art learning something new every day. Jeanne works on commission.
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