c. 2004 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ Two exhibits highlighting faith during World War II are already drawing visitors as veterans and others around the country travel to Washington, D.C., this weekend (May 29-30) for the dedication of the National World War II Memorial.

The exhibits are part of “America Celebrates the Greatest Generation,” a hundred-day tribute to the World War II generation that begins after the memorial is dedicated on Saturday (May 29).

One exhibit, called “Faith of our Fathers and Mothers,” is housed at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a set 10 triptychs _ three decorated hinged panels _ that were used as portable altars during the war.

“They show how soldiers carried faith right on to the battlefield,” said Penelope Fletcher, deputy director of the cultural center, noting that the altars were set up in places ranging from ships to the hoods of jeeps.

Soldiers and chaplains had to make use of what they could to express their faith during the war, Fletcher said. For example, she said, services aboard one of the ships were held using a chalice made from a metal pipe.

Other items in the exhibit include photographs of religious services during the war, prayer cards carried by soldiers, rosaries and Christian and Jewish prayer books with frontispiece inscriptions by President Franklin Roosevelt.

The exhibit also draws attention to the faith of those at home by including letters from soldiers to family members. Advertisements for refrigerators and sheet music for popular songs like “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” show how the war influenced popular culture as well, Fletcher said.

“Faith played out in surprising ways during the war,” she said. “It can even seem very Hollywood-esque at times.”

Sandy Peeler, director of public relations for the cultural center, said she hopes the exhibit will make people reflect on the message of faith.

“I hope there’s a lesson for today,” Peeler said. “Faith is so important, especially now with the war going on.”

Fletcher agreed.

“People of all faiths were fighting for freedom of religion during World War II,” she said. “And freedom of religion meant everyone. We need to preserve that today, to remember that we’re fighting for all religions.”

The exhibit opened May 15 and runs through Sept. 7.

The other exhibit honors the work of chaplains during the war. The exhibit, called “Faith and Courage: U.S. Chaplains’ Service in World War II,” is at the Washington National Cathedral.

“The chaplain corps is such an amazing story,” said Jenny Sobelman, the exhibit coordinator. “Since it’s almost never told, we thought it would be good tie-in with the memorial to do it now.”

The exhibit shows how chaplains were recruited, what their duties were, and what challenges they faced during the war. One installment tells the well-known story of the Four Chaplains, who gave up their life preservers while the USS Dorchester was sinking.

“Chaplains volunteered for the war,” said Julie Cooke, director of visitor programs at the cathedral. “They had the third-highest casualty rate, and they still wanted to serve.”

Other items in the exhibit include portable Jewish and Christian altars, chaplain uniforms, a traveling pump organ, and many photographs.

Like Peeler and Fletcher, Cooke said she hopes the exhibit will cause people to reflect on faith and sacrifice in their own lives.

“I want people to walk away and say, `What would I have done?”’ Cooke said. “We want people to pause and reflect on the whole notion of service and sacrifice. The stories of the chaplains help us do this.”

The exhibit is housed in the Rare Book Library at the cathedral. It runs from May 26 to Sept. 26.

DEA/KRE END FINUCANE