An interfaith memorial service in observance of the 79th anniversary of the Four Chaplains will be held Thursday, Feb. 3, at noon in the Norse Room at the Grand Hotel in Minot.

Presented by the Minot Wreaths Across America and Minot Civil Air Patrol, and hosted by The Salvation Army of Minot, the service is open to everyone.

On Feb. 3, 1943, four Army chaplains – Father John Washington, Rabbi Alexander Goode and the Revs. George Fox and Clark Poling – gave up their life jackets on a sinking Army transport, the Dorchester, to save the life of others, according to historical information. Of the 902 people onboard, only 230 survived.

The program will include the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 4 color guard and Auxiliary, Capts. John Woodard and Faith Woodard of The Salvation Army, and Steve Veikley.

Gabriel Mejia, general manager of the Grand Hotel, and Niki Brose, owner of Flower Central floral shop, will be presented The Chapel of Four Chaplains Awards “for services they have rendered in supporting our veterans,” according to Richard Reuer, coordinator of the local Wreaths Across America.

He said die cast model semi trucks and certificates will be presented by Jeremy Skalicky, local CAP squadron commander, to seven businesses that have been sponsoring wreaths for five consecutive years.