NY Cardinal, Guard Remember 'Fighting Father Duffy' 

By By Col. Richard Goldenberg
via the Military.com web site

NEW YORK -- Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York joined the National Guard's top chaplain in Times Square on Wednesday, June 27, to salute the Army's most famous chaplain: New York National Guard Lt. Col. Francis P. Duffy.

New York Army National Guard Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Scott Ehler, left, introduces the official party to commemorate the life and career of New York Army National Guard Chaplain Father Francis P. Duffy at Times Square June 27, 2018. Ehler joined with Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, WWI National Commissioner Dr. Libby O’Connell and the National Guard’s senior chaplain, Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Kenneth “Ed” Brandt to commemorate Duffy’s service in WWI. (U.S. Army National Guard photo/Jean Kratzer)Dolan and Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Kenneth "Ed" Brandt, who also serves as one of the Army's Deputy Chief of Chaplains, marked the anniversary of Duffy's death on June 26, 1932, by laying a wreath at the memorial to Father Duffy erected in Times Square in 1937.

Duffy, a member of the New York National Guard's 69th Infantry Regiment, was famed as leader and counselor to the Irish-Americans who served in the unit during World War I. He was also known for his good works at home.

When he died an estimated 50,000 New Yorkers lined the funeral procession route from St. Patrick's Cathedral to his burial site in the Bronx.

"Father Duffy was one of those chaplains who allowed his ministry to follow the Soldiers," Brandt said. "In true chaplain fashion he cared about the person more than the ideology. Father Duffy served all, regardless of religion, seeing each person as a child of God."

"I am so grateful that in the middle of this part of the world, New York City, would stand the statue of the priest who exemplified so radiantly that love of God and love of country," Dolan said.

Read the entire article on the Military.com web site.

External Web Site Notice: This page contains information directly presented from an external source. The terms and conditions of this page may not be the same as those of this website. Click here to read the full disclaimer notice for external web sites. Thank you.