Civitans hold Clergy Appreciation celebration

The Civitan Club of Salisbury held its annual Clergy Appreciation Week celebration at its meeting on Thursday at the Country Club of Salisbury. The tradition of honoring local clergy the first week in February dates back to the sacrifice of four Army chaplains during World War II who gave their lives in an unselfish act of heroism on board the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, an Army transport ship approaching an American base in Greenland early in 1943. Early on the morning of February 3, 1943 the Dorchester was hit by a torpedo fired from a German submarine in the chilly Atlantic waters.

Only 230 of the 902 service men and civilian workers survived that tragic event; but among the survivors were witnesses on nearby rafts who observed the four chaplains Lt. George Fox, a Methodist clergyman; Lt. Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; Lt. John Washington, a Roman Catholic priest; and Lt. Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed pastor with their arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Above the roar of the sea, their voices could be heard offering prayers of comfort and encouragement.

In recognition of the extraordinary faith, courage, and selflessness, Civitan clubs around the world celebrate Clergy Appreciation Week during the week of February 3. The Civitan Club of Salisbury recognizes the clergy of its members by providing a luncheon in their honor. The Rev. Richard Williams, Vicar of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury, spoke to the club members and guests about the sacrifices of the four chaplains and the importance of the clergy in the community. In his comments he recognized club members who have served in the military during various wars and conflicts.

Father Williams is a retired US Navy Captain having served as a Chaplain for more than 23 years. Over the years of his duty, Mr. Williams served on a variety of Naval vessels; he was assigned to the Marine Air Group during Desert Storm. He additionally served as a refugee camp chaplain at Guantanamo Bay. Father Williams is a native of Virginia coming from six generations of military service; he has been ordained for more than 35 years and has served parishes in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. He is married to his wife Judith and is the father of three sons and one daughter and six grandchildren.