PLYMOUTH - Three Mount Carmel natives received Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Award during an induction ceremony hosted by Kingston native Bill Jones, a former Master of Fourth Degree, Central Pennsylvania District, Calvert Province. The ceremony was conducted in Plymouth on Oct. 30.
Rose Bailoni received the award for her community activity over the past 40 years. She was a fund raiser for the West End Fire Company during the early 1970s. She also served as a community ambulance volunteer drive captain. Rose served as a cheerleader moderator for Holy Spirit School for four years from 1976 to 1980. She returned to community service by helping the Clover Hose Fire Company. Between 1984 and 1990, she assisted in establishing a canteen service for the firefighters. Currently, she raises funds for the Mount Carmel Knights of Columbus Council Charity fund. The monies are used for the Children's Miracle Network, the PA ARC drive, and local charities.
Anthony V. "Red" Miscavige Jr.'s Legion of Honor Award was received posthumously by family members Daniel Miscavige, Gerard Miscavige and daughter Maria Urick. As a member of the board of directors of Penn State University Schuylkill Campus, Red established a scholarship fund for the youth of the community. He founded the Polish Area Cultural Club and served on a volunteer basis helping at the local high school. He was always involved in community activities as a member of the Lions Club or as a Knight of Columbus. Red was fiercely proud of his community and was a silent financial donor to many projects
The Jim Nolan Legion of Honor Award was received posthumously by his wife Olga and sons Bob and Jim Nolan. Jim served Mount Carmel by serving as a volunteer in helping to promote recreational areas, activities and helped develop the sites for these activities.
Through his business, he sponsored a softball team. He served as a borough councilman and a member of the Area Sewer Authority overlooking the construction phases. Through the years, he assisted four men financially in their studies for the priesthood. He served on numerous borough committees and often donated time and materials for picnic stands for the local churches and also devoted time to Holy Spirit School maintenance.
Recipients of the Legion of Honor Award become a permanent part of the Chapel's records and receive a beautiful certificate with full color likeness of the Four Chaplains.
The Chapel of the Four Chaplains seeks to encourage observation of the unity that binds together Americans of all faiths. Shortly after the Chapel's dedication by President Harry S. Truman in 1951, the founding trustees established the Legion of Honor Program to publicly recognize persons whose lives model the kind of selfless service to community, nation and humanity without regard to race, religion or creed as exemplified by the four Chaplains
These four Army Chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed and Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic.
When the USAT Dorchester was torpedoed on Feb. 3, 1943, it was carrying 902 serviceman, merchant seaman and civilians workers. Tragically, the hit had knocked out power and radio contact with the three escort ships. The flash of the explosion was seen by the escorts and 229 men were rescued. Through the confusion, the chaplains assisted the many soldiers who struggled to the deck by giving them lifejackets, but when the supply was exhausted, they gave their life jackets to those who had none.
As the ship went down, the survivors could see the four chaplains with their arms linked together as they braced themselves while kneeling on the slanting deck and heads bowed as each prayed in his own way to their One God. The four chaplains that night became an enduring example of extraordinary faith, courage and selflessness. The Chaplains were posthumously awarded a Special Medal of Heroism in January 1961 as authorized by congress never before given and never to be given again. Congress desired to confer the Medal of Honor on the Chaplains but the stringent requirements that required heroism be performed under fire blocked the attempt. The Special Medal was intended to have the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor.