WASHINGTON (July 29, 2014) -- Legacy was the theme of the day during the 240th Chaplain Corps Anniversary activities at Arlington National Cemetery and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBM-HH), Va.
"A chaplain is someone who stands as a reminder about something greater," said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Paul K. Hurley, Army Chief of Chaplains. "Today both at the Tomb of the Unknowns and here [Chaplain's Hill] it is an opportunity for us to pause and remember those whose legacy we operate on."
The Army Chaplain Corps was born on July 29, 1775 when the Continental Congress authorized pay for one chaplain for each regiment of the Army. Since the creation of the regiment, nearly 25,000 Army Chaplains have served as religious and spiritual leads for 25 million Soldiers and their families. Army Chaplains have served in more than 270 major wars and combat engagements.
"I am humbled to be a part of this," said Hurley, who also spoke about how the Chaplain Corps mission has remained essentially the same from when it was first created by George Washington 240 years ago; to attend to the care of the souls in their care.
The ceremony held in Arlington, Va., was one of many across the Army by the Corps to celebrate the anniversary.
Hurley and Sgt. Maj. Alvin J. Chaplin, regimental sergeant major of the Chaplain Corps, paid tribute to those that have given the ultimate sacrifice by laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at Chaplain's Hill at Arlington National Cemetery.
"To be a part of an organization that is just as old as the institution itself is special," said Chaplin.
Following the wreath laying ceremonies the celebration continued with the cutting of the Chaplain Corps Anniversary cake and a cookout at the JBM-HH Officer's Club. In keeping with Chaplain Corps tradition the cake was cut with the Chief and Regimental Sergeant Major of the Chaplain Corps along with the oldest chaplain and youngest chaplain assistant in attendance at the ceremony.
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