Church blesses 'powerful' Four Chaplains monument following major restoration

With numerous parishioners, military veterans, and other special guests looking on, Father Joe Mancini blessed the recently refurbished monument honoring the World War II heroes known as the Four Chaplains outside St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny during a rededication ceremony following the annual Four Chaplains Mass on Feb. 6.

After Father Joe finished blessing the towering bronze statue with incense, several of those gathered posed for photos in front of the monument, its brighter, lush coloring glistening in the afternoon sun. Others remarked on how magnificent the statue looks post-restoration, pointing out intricate details they had never noticed before.

Father Joe himself was impressed by the refurbishment’s outcome. After nearly a decade’s worth of wear-and-tear, he said the monument was starting to appear a little run-down prior to its rehabilitation. Now he said it is back to looking like a worthy tribute to Lt. Father John P. Washington, who was St. Stephen’s pastor before enlisting in the Army, and the three other chaplains who sacrificed their lives to save soldiers onboard the torpedoed United States Army Transport (USAT) ship Dorchester.

“It looks really good,” said Father Joe, who spearheaded the push to make St. Stephen’s Church the Archdiocese of Newark’s officially designated sanctuary of the Four Chaplains in 2016. “I hope people take advantage of the new benches there to sit and reflect on the selflessness and sacrifice and unconditional love the Four Chaplains showed. They really embodied the quote ‘There is no greater love, says the Lord, than to lay down your life for a friend.’”

Bill, Joe, and Cindy Drefko pose before the Four Chaplains monument after spending 418 hours renovating the statue and surrounding area for Joe’s Eagle Scout project. (Photo by the Archdiocese of Newark/Sean Quinn)

During the early morning hours of Feb. 3, 1943, Father John and his fellow chaplains — Lt. Alexander D. Goode, a rabbi; Lt. George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister — were traveling to a US military base in Greenland on board the USAT Dorchester when their ship was attacked by a German submarine. As the Dorchester began sinking into the icy waters of the North Atlantic, it was discovered there were not enough lifejackets for everyone on board. So, the Four Chaplains made the ultimate sacrifice — they gave up their own, thereby ensuring they would not survive. They were last seen linked arm-in-arm, lifting their voices in prayer.

St. Stephen’s immortalized this sacrifice in 2013 when it commissioned a 12-foot, 2,000-pound bronze statue depicting the Four Chaplains praying according to their faith traditions. The monument has been admired as a focal point of the parish ever since, but it was starting to deteriorate after nearly 10 years outside. Fortunately for the parish, 16-year-old Joe Drefko was eager to help.

“I didn’t think the monument looked right, and I didn’t think it paid the correct respect to the Four Chaplains,” said Drefko, a lifelong St. Stephen’s parishioner and member of the parish-based Boy Scout Unit 305. “So, I thought fixing the monument would be a good Eagle Scout project.”

*Joe Drefko works on cleaning the statue. (Photo courtesy of the Drefko family)*

After getting Father Joe’s approval, Drefko spoke with the monument’s sculptor Timothy Schmalz, who explained how to refurbish the bronze statue. He also raised roughly $2,850 through donations and a Mother’s Day flower sale to pay for supplies. And, to assist him with the project, he organized a crew of volunteers that included family and other Scouts.

Then Drefko got to work. Since the monument’s base had sustained significant water damage, Drefko and company resealed it for protection before repainting the base a lighter, more welcoming color. They also placed two benches, laid a pathway to the statue with pavers, did some landscaping, and planted four shrubs — one for each chaplain — to transform the area into a picturesque place to pray. Additionally, Drefko added a plaque with a dedication he wrote describing the Four Chaplains’ selflessness so visitors unaware of their story can learn about their sacrifice.

The statue was plagued with bronze disease — a chemical reaction in which a green or white substance forms on a bronze surface — which meant Drefko’s group needed to clean it and apply a protective clear coat of paint. But the clear coat was not going on correctly, which led Drefko to make a surprising discovery upon consulting with the sculptor — the dark brown, long thought to be the statue’s natural color, was actually a patina that could be removed. Discarding that covering unveiled a much lighter bronze color and numerous details that had long been obscured, such as the image of a sinking Dorchester on the statue’s backside. Father Joe preferred this more appealing appearance, so Drefko’s crew cleaned the statue and applied the clear coat over the bright bronze surface.

In total, Drefko and his team spent 418 hours refurbishing the Four Chaplains monument from May through November 2021. And it was not easy. The aspiring Eagle Scout recalled that weather proved to be particularly troublesome, with the heat sometimes preventing the volunteers from working on the bronze and the rain forcing them to redo work they had already finished.

But Drefko is glad he stuck with the project, explaining that he felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment when it was completed. More than that, after spending so much time with the monument, he said he has gained a newfound appreciation for the Four Chaplains and what people can learn from them.

*Joe Drefko and his crew of volunteers removed bushes as part of the refurbishment to create a more picturesque area surrounding the Four Chaplains monument. (Photo courtesy of the Drefko family)*

“They were very selfless,” Drefko said. “They really didn’t think about themselves — they just saw people who were in trouble and helped them, even though they ended up going down with the ship. Of course, as average people, we’re all not going to make sacrifices like that. But we can all do smaller things to help others that can have the same impact.”

Drefko’s project has had a major impact on the St. Stephen’s community. His parents Cindy and Bill — who assisted Drefko in every aspect of the refurbishment — said parishioners would regularly offer encouragement and compliments as the work progressed. The congregation was also quick to support the restoration financially when Drefko was collecting donations, they added.

Of course, Cindy and Bill Drefko themselves were impressed by their son’s efforts. The parents said they always knew their boy was an outstanding young man who lives his faith every day, even earning the nickname “Father Joe” from his friends. But his commitment to this refurbishment project shows how special he is, they said.

“We have pride beyond words that, because of something our son did, people are going to feel good and be able to reflect on the Four Chaplains,” Cindy Drefko said. “I feel so blessed that God has worked His way in my son to be such a good person, such a quiet and gentle leader. And he really is a young man who serves others.”

*The refurbished Four Chaplains monument features a bright new color, beautified sitting area, and commemorative plaque. (Photo courtesy of the Drefko family)*

Those gathered for the rededication ceremony were also amazed by the refurbished monument. Mayor Alberto G. Santos of Kearny said Drefko did a “fantastic” job restoring the statue, pointing out that people can now see the detailed expressions on the chaplains’ faces. The story of the Four Chaplains is a pivotal part of Kearny’s history, Santos said, and Drefko’s work on the monument will ensure the town will continue remembering it.

“It’s very impressive to see a young person stepping up the way he did,” Santos said. “What he’s done is make a powerful statue even more so, and the community of Kearny is very thankful.”

Paul Fried, Rabbi Goode’s son-in-law, said he is likewise happy St. Stephen’s Church has such a moving reminder of the Four Chaplains’ sacrifice on display. Fried said his father-in-law was a man so brilliant he might have helped bring about peace in the Middle East if he lived. In his absence, Fried said people should make their own difference in the world by following the Four Chaplains’ example.

“It is a beautiful story, and today we need it more than ever,” said Fried, who regularly attends Four Chaplains events and maintains contact with the other chaplains’ families to keep their legacy alive. “With all the disharmony and anger in the world, we need people to learn from the Four Chaplains and dedicate their life to service.”

To learn more about the Four Chaplains and St. Stephen’s Church, visit https://ststephenkearny.com/father-washington.

Featured image: Father Joe Mancini blesses the newly refurbished Four Chaplains monument outside St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny. (Photo by Archdiocese of Newark/Sean Quinn)