Congressman Paul Tonko, representing New York’s 21st district, left, presents a proclamation from the House of Representatives to Amanda Aussems-Poskanzer for her efforts to coordinate the Albany chapter of Run for Their Lives, an advocacy and awareness group on behalf of the hostages held in Gaza at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, Feb. 1. Photo courtesy of Richard Goldenberg.
Jewish War Veterans of Albany Post 105 Rich Goldenberg, left, and Fred Altman, congratulate Amanda Aussems-Poskanzer for her selection as the 2026 recipient of the Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, Feb. 1. Joining Amanda is her husband Noah and daughter Isla. Photo courtesy of Rev. Bruce Swingle.
By RICHARD GOLDENBERG
Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Albany Post 105
SCHENECTADY– Members of the Jewish War Veterans (JWV) across the Capital District joined with JWV’s Albany Post 105 to remember the World War II service and sacrifice of the Four Chaplains and present the annual Brotherhood Award to Amanda Aussems-Poskanzer of Slingerlands, Sunday, Feb. 1, at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady. The award has ben presented since 1966.
The annual event honors four Army chaplains who gave their lives when the troopship Dorchester was torpedoed on Feb. 3, 1943. The Brotherhood Award honors those whose service and devotion in the practice of brotherhood are deserving of community recognition.
The four chaplains were Reverend George Fox, a Methodist minister from Lewiston, Penn., Rabbi Alexander Goode from Brooklyn, Dutch Reformed Reverend Clark Poling, from Schenectady, and Father John Washington, a Roman Catholic priest from Newark, N.J.
The ship was torpedoed shortly before 1 a.m. on Feb. 3. The chaplains provided comfort and direction to soldiers as the ship rapidly sank. They gave their life jackets to save others and prayed as the ship slipped under the North Atlantic waters.
Poling served the congregation of the First Reformed Church before his chaplaincy and wartime service.
“We’re honored today to add to those who have received this award and to add another name, Amanda Aussems-Poskanzer, to this honor roll of people who have dedicated themselves in the spirit of the four chaplains,” said Albany Post 105 Commander Fred Altman.
The JWV selected Aussems-Poskanzer for her role in organizing and leading the Albany, chapter of Run for Their Lives, an advocacy group that brought together community volunteers across faiths and backgrounds to raise awareness of the innocent hostages held in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
“She recruited the members. They marched every week,” Altman reported. “But they didn’t just march, they also conducted advocacy. They spoke to members of the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate.”
JWV Commander for the Department of New York, Jerry Alperstein, said the sacrifice of the four chaplains left a legacy for unity without uniformity that the nation continues to strive for today.
“They worked together to save lives on the Dorchester, without discriminating as to who received the life jackets that they were distributing while sacrificing their own lives in the process. “These four mensches deserve to be remembered, deserve to be honored and deserve to be emulated by the Jewish War Veterans and by all Americans, Alperstein asserted.”
Nearly 75 attendees filled the Poling Chapel at the First Reformed Church. The group included veteran organizations, members of the church, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, and the region’s congressional representative, Paul Tonko.
Aussems-Poskanzer also thanked all the volunteers of the Run for Their Lives chapter for their participation, action and support.
“Whether it was joining for one walk or walking every week, having you there made our weekly walks possible, and our advocacy that much more powerful,” she said. “Without you, this would have never been possible. I am so grateful to the Albany community for rallying behind me, because running or walking every week would have never happened without each and every one of you that showed up to support not only my goal, but each other.”
Aussems-Poskanzer and others acknowledged the impact of the ceremony following the return of remains of the final Israeli hostage from Gaza.
“It also feels like a full circle moment to be receiving this award just days after the last remaining hostage, Ran Gvili, was brought home to his family for a proper burial. Our mission was always to bring them home, until the last hostage, and while there are now no more hostages in Gaza, (for) the first time in 12 years, our work as a community to recover and heal still exists,” she said.
“I wear a bracelet all the time that says, “be a light,”” Aussems-Poskanze said. “Growing up, I think the part of being Jewish that has always stuck out to me is tikkun olam (repairing the world), and really seeing how I can make this world a better place.”
Story by Richard Goldenberg, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Albany Post 105
