Four Chaplains Day
al·tru·ism
/ˈaltro͞oˌizəm/
noun
Belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.
 George Lansing Fox |  Alexander David Goode | ||
 Clark Vandersall Poling |  John Patrick Washington |
The troop ship SS Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943, during World War II as the result of being torpedoed by a German U-Boat in the North Atlantic.
As the vessel was going down four US Army Chaplains aboard placed the others aboard before themselves by helping them board lifeboats and giving them their lifejackets when there were no more to be had.
They then joined arms, prayed, and sang hymns as the SS Dorchester sank, going down with the ship.
These four men of God have been celebrated and honored for their actions which saved other civilian and military personnel with a selfless call to duty with valor uncommon in dire circumstances.
In 1988, February 3 became "Four Chaplains Day" by unanimous act of Congress.
This day is reserved as a feast day in their honor by the Episcopal Church in the United States.