Mary Evancho receives Four Chaplains’ humanitarian award

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
   MANVILLE — For Mary Evancho, of Brooks Boulevard, helping others is just something she feels she has to do.
   But to those she helps, her actions put her in the company of those who gave their lives for others without hesitation.
   Ms. Evancho was honored Oct. 19 with a Legion of Honor humanitarian award from the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation, which recognizes those who provide selfless service to others.
   ”It is for people who do exceptional work for others in the community,” she said.
   Recipients are nominated by friends or relatives who want them to be honored for their acts of kindness and their participation in the interfaith community.
   ”The Legion of Honor award is given in recognition of exceptional selfless service on the part of an individual which contributes to the well-being of his or her community, and to a spirit of interfaith cooperation,” said Bill Siebel, trustee of the foundation’s Chapel of Four Chaplains.
   The ceremony – which was held at Congregation Knesseth Israel Temple, in Bound Brook – honored six people with the Legion of Honor award for their volunteer service in their communities.
   Ms. Evancho said a friend of hers living in Bound Brook nominated her for the award based on the service she provided for her cancer-stricken brother and to a fellow community member recovering from injury in a rehabilitation center.
   According to the nomination, the only person able to visit the ailing community member was afraid of highway driving, so Ms. Evancho offered to drive for each visit.
   In addition, Ms. Evancho holds an interfaith Bible class at her home.
   ”I have people who need help, and I just help them,” she said.
   The award, Ms. Evancho said, is given as a tribute to four U.S. Army Chaplains – Rabbi Alexander Goode, Rev. George Fox, Rev. Clark Poling and Father John Washington – who served aboard the Troopship Dorchester during World War II. The four men were among 902 American servicemen onboard Feb. 3, 1943, when the ship was struck by a torpedo in the North Atlantic waters.
   After all the available life jackets had been given out to the servicemen, the four Chaplains gave theirs away to four young soldiers instead of taking them for themselves. The four chaplains drowned that night.
   Ms. Evancho said the survivors of the ship began the Chapel of Four Chaplains in 1947 to honor the memory of the four men, of different faiths, who gave their lives for others. In 1951, she said, President Harry Truman officially recognized the organization.
   ”I was aware of the four chaplains and it is a really exceptional story,” Ms. Evancho said. “I was humbled to think I could even remotely be considered (for the award in their company).”
   Also honored at the ceremony were Rita Burke, of Bound Brook; Artie Muller, of Neshanic Station; Marge Schofield, of Bound Brook; Susan Saltzman, of Middlesex; and Herbert Patullo, of Martinsville.