Ahead of July 29, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, organization seeks updates to Arlington chaplain memorials.
The voices of the survivors tell the story, and they speak out to commemorate those chaplains who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps on July 29, 2025, we uplift the legacy of military chaplains providing compassionate pastoral care, spiritual guidance, and an unwavering calming presence often in the face of danger and uncertainty,” asserted Rev. Renée L. Owen, master of divinity and chair of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF) Executive Committee. “The National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces is honored to represent ecclesiastical endorsers in supporting religious ministry professionals living out their calling to chaplaincy ministry within the Armed Forces while advocating for the religious freedom of all service men and women and their families. In naming those chaplains who died during times of war, we keep their stories alive.”
Dr. Greg Tardieu, ANC Chaplain Hill Committee historian, noted, “One of George Washington’s first requests as commander in chief was the creation of the Chaplain Corps. Since 1775, over 400 chaplains have died in war, armed only with their faith.” Chaplains from a wide background of faith groups have served the soldiers of the U.S. Army since Day 1 in 1775. They have been in the trenches and on the battlefields alongside the soldiers they served at every step of the fight.
Capt. (ret.) Doyle Dunn (USN), NCMAF executive director, observed, "As we commemorate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army, I call on President Trump to approve the long-overdue update to the Chaplains Hill monuments at Arlington National Cemetery, so we can add names of chaplains who died in Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, Iraq and Afghanistan not already presented.” Dunn continued, “This will stand as a meaningful and powerful tribute honoring the legacy of chaplains across generations, from all branches of our military – those who faithfully served both God and country, those who gave their lives in that sacred service.”
A long-standing effort to add 81 names to the Protestant and Catholic Memorials on Chaplains Hill on Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery, led by NCMAF, has been endorsed by many national veterans and military support organizations. Dunn noted, “This is a nonpartisan and interfaith project with bipartisan support and two congressional legislative actions calling for it to be done. It is time for the president to approve this tribute slated for Arlington National Cemetery.”
The enhancement of the Chaplains Hill Memorials has been endorsed by the American Legion National Executive Committee (via resolution), the Association of the U.S. Army, the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Navy League Council of NY. Congress included specific direction in the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2021 and 2022, signed by the president, to update the Chaplains Hill monuments. This legislation received staunch support from both sides of the aisle. The bills provided authority for NCMAF to upgrade these monuments.
In 2011, NCMAF led the effort to obtain congressional approval to erect a monument for Jewish chaplains at Section 2, dedicated on Oct. 24 with nearly 1,000 on hand for the dedication. NCMAF then similarly proposed to upgrade the Protestant Memorial with a granite headstone, replacing a crumbling concrete headstone and making a new bronze plaque including chaplains’ names who died in service not already named. Several names of Catholic chaplains who died in service during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are also proposed to be added to the Catholic Chaplains Monument. The project will be entirely paid for by private sources; the Dignity Memorial Company has agreed to donate the new granite monument and provide installation. This committee has diligently, respectfully and repeatedly presented plans to Arlington National Cemetery officials, without receiving approval to proceed. No action has been taken to update the monuments.
NCMAF is the umbrella organization for 150 U.S. faith groups and the professional clergy representatives who endorse military and VA chaplains. For more information, visit ncmaf.com/arlington-national-cemetery.
- Honor & Remembrance