Vorn

As a youngster on Memorial Day we would go to the local cemeteries and decorate the graves of those who in Mr. Lincoln's words had paid 'the last full measure of devotion.'  For those of us in the Navy though the sentiment may be similar we have few geographic places to go to in order to honor the dead.  A ship goes down in combat at sea and the grave is at best marked by a lat/long mark on a chart.  So, it is left to the imagination, for the most part, to render honors.

This year I'm remembering in particular a chaplain who remained with the dying and wounded while his ship sank.  The ship, USS Cumberland was lost not far from where I work in Norfolk.  Chaplain John Lenhart was the first Navy Chaplain killed in action.  For the historically curious, his story may be found here: http://archives.gcah.org/handle/10516/5745

"WE therefore commit his body to the deep, to be turned into corruption, looking for the resurrection of the body (when the sea shall give up her dead,) and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who at his coming shall change our vile body, that it may be like his glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. " BCP 1789.