UPPER MERION TWP, PA — The Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge National Historical Park has stood as a national symbol of remembrance not only to George Washington, the Founders and the Patriots, but also to those brave men and women who have fought to defend those liberties since we became a nation. This is why the Chapel will, once again, be honoring Veteran’s Day on Thursday, November 11 at 11 AM with a special Veteran’s Day service and remembrance ceremony for the fallen WWI heroes laid to rest in the Chapel Churchyard.
During the service, a call to silence and prayer (for a period of two minutes) will be held as attendees honor Armistice Day (November 11, 1918, at 11 AM when the guns were silenced and this eventually led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles the following year). The Chapel’s world-renowned carillon will toll its bourdon bell twice during this time as a symbol of solemn gratitude and tribute to those who fought valiantly for our freedom and continue to do so as U.S. veterans.
Following the service, a processional will take place to the Chapel’s iconic statue entitled “Sacrifice and Devotion,” which is dedicated to the mothers of America and which became a pilgrimage site for wives, mothers and sweethearts of soldiers during WW I, and then to the Chapel’s Churchyard to honor three WWI veterans who are laid to rest there.
Among the WWI veterans interred at the churchyard are: Army Brig. Gen. James C. Rosborough, who also commanded artillery battalions during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II as the commander of the 197th Field Artillery; Corporal Herbert Warrinerof the 109th Infantry, who died of wounds on October 28 after being through much fighting with his regiment as well as the 315th and 109thInfantries, Company K; and Dimitri Fedotoff White (1889-1950) a combat veteran of World War I, who was an Imperial Russian Navy officer from Saint Petersburg.
The Chapel invites community members and veterans to come to pray for those who lost their lives in service to our country.
Washington Memorial Chapel is located at Rt. 23 Valley Forge Park, Valley Forge, PA.
To learn more about the Washington Memorial Chapel, visit http://wmchapel.org/heritage/ and http://www.savewashingtonmemorial.org/ to learn about the restoration campaign.
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