Twelve People were inducted into the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor during the Four Chaplains Service on Saturday.
Over 120 people turned out for the annual event at the Roseburg American Legion Post 16 near downtown.
Jim Little, former President of the Douglas County Veterans Forum led the service. Little started the service eight years ago as a way to remember the sacrifice four chaplains made when the U.S.A.T. Dorchester sunk after being hit by German torpedoes about 150 miles from Greenland during World War II on February 3rd,1943. Little and four people, each playing the part of one of the chaplains, talked about their lives and how they comforted those on board the vessel. Of 902 on the ship, 672 died, leaving 232 survivors. Four of those lived because the chaplains each sacrificed their own life jacket, handing it off to young sailors.
The local residents inducted into the Legion of Honor were nominated due to their selfless sacrifice to others regardless of race, religion or creed. None of the inductees named knew they were getting the honor, but instead were essentially tricked into coming, thinking they were giving an award to someone else, or were going to participate in some other way.
Those whose names were placed on a new plaque in the American Legion Hall are Gerald Anderson, Roger Arnold, Steve Bergadine, Melvin Cheney, Kirkland Connor, Jackie Flowers, David Hopkins, Cynthia Houston, Neil Hummel, Douglas Page and Miguel Ramirez. Dirk Kruysman was added posthumously and his widow Mary received his award.
Jim Little said the inductees were all approved by the Four Chaplains Chapel Committee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.