Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt Week (October 3-7, 2016) Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Proclamation(s) # 5.
ITEM TITLE: Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt Week (October 3-7, 2016)
SUMMARY:
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Chaplain Schmitt Week Proclamation Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF
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Whereas Aloysius Herman Schmitt was born in St Lucas, Iowa and attended Columbia
Academy, (now Loras College), in Dubuque, Iowa. He completed his theological
studies at the North American College in Rome, Italy and was ordained a priest on
December 8, 1935; and
Whereas, Chaplain Schmitt served as assistant pastor at St. Mary's parish in Dubuque before
enlisting in the U.S. Navy and appointed chaplain in 1939; and
Whereas, Chaplain Schmitt was assigned to the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor and was
aboard the ship when it was torpedoed. Without regard for his own life, Chaplain
Schmitt clambered through the rapidly flooding chambers below deck, in the
darkness and inundation, and saved as many as a dozen men by lifting them to
safety through an 18-inch porthole and went in search for more men to save; and
Whereas, Chaplain Schmitt was the first Chaplain to die in WW II during the attack on Pearl
Harbor and was classified as "Missing in Action" for the past 75 years; and
Whereas, his remains were identified in June of this year and will be returned to Dubuque for
internment at Christ the King Chapel in a solemn ceremony on October 8, 2016.
NOW THEREFORE, I, ROY BUOL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, STAFF AND THE CITIZENS OF DUBUQUE, DO HEREBY
PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 3, 2016 AS:
"CHAPLAIN ALOYSIUS HERMAN SCHMITT WEEK"
IN THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City
of Dubuque to be affixed this 3rd day of
October, 2016.
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Kevin S. Firnstahl, CIVIC, City Clerk
2016: Submitted by Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann and accepted by Dr. Steve Sloan.