HAYDEN - When the new tea rose blooms in the PFC Robert J. Gordon Veterans Memorial Plaza in front of Hayden City Hall, those who behold its dark red petals will be humbled as they remember the actions of America's heroes.

Four heroes in particular were honored when the rose, a special hybrid appropriately named the "Veterans' Honor Rose," was dedicated in a ceremony Thursday afternoon. The four Army chaplains who gave their lives to save others when the U.S.A.T. Dorchester sank in 1943 were on the minds and in the hearts of the nearly 50 veterans and civilians who attended the commemoration.

"It's meaningful because it isn't the only instance in which somebody sacrificed their lives to save somebody else," said Tom DePew, 89, of Hayden Lake. "This happened in our military several times."

DePew is a World War II Navy veteran who entered the service just before his 18th birthday and trained at Farragut Naval Training Station. He was at Farragut when the Dorchester sank, but said he didn't hear about it until later.

"We didn't get newspapers during training," he said. "All we got was word of mouth."

The ceremony began with a presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by words from Hayden's Veterans Commission Chaplain Al Holm, and retired Marine Graham Crutchfield, who donated the rose to the city of Hayden.

Holm read excerpts from "No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in WWII," and spoke about the selflessness of the chaplains. The four chaplains were Methodist Rev. George Fox, Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reformed Rev. Clark Poling and Roman Catholic Father John Washington.

They were on their first duty, headed to Europe on a ship of 900 men. On Feb. 3, 1943, when the ship was near Greenland, the Dorchester was struck by a torpedo from a German U-Boat. It only took 13 minutes for the ship to sink, taking 678 lives with it. The four chaplains used those 13 minutes to help GIs to the upper decks and pass out life jackets, including their own. They stood on the edge of the sinking ship, praying for their friends and colleagues while facing certain death.

"I hope someday that I can say I had the honor of standing in the shadow of these four great men," Holm said.

Graham Crutchfield also gave a touching speech during the ceremony.

"They went down singing hymns," Crutchfield said. "They said you could hear Father Washington's voice for miles."

Crutchfield has a Veterans' Honor Rose in his yard, and said he thinks of America's fallen veterans whenever he sees a flower fall to the ground. He said although America has many memorials of different materials, what the country needs is a living memorial to represent the lives of those who have served and are serving.

"I'm grateful to God and our fellow man that we are able to come here on this beautiful day and pay tribute to our fellow veterans who have served our country in the past, the present and in the future," he said.

The Veterans' Honor Rose was created by home gardening company Jackson and Perkins and was unveiled in Arlington National Cemetery May 27, 1999. It has been planted in several cemeteries and personal yards across the nation. Ten percent of its sales go into a special fund to support research into the health care needs of veterans. To purchase a Veterans' Honor Rose, call (800) 292-4769.