LEWISTON – Post 22, American Legion, will hold a membership meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the former Post 22 hall, located at 190 Bates St.

Memorial services will be conducted by Cmdr. Richards Giem and Adjutant Jerry DerBoghosian commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the army transport SS Dorchester that was sunk by a German submarine on Feb. 3, 1943, off the coast of Newfoundland.

Four U.S. Army chaplains gave their life jackets to soldiers who didn’t have one.

The four chaplains guided the soldiers to life rafts and the ship sank in 26 minutes with the four chaplains holding hands, singing and praying. Out of 900 aboard, only 22 survived in the cold North Atlantic.

A second memorial service will be held to note the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Iwo Jima, where thousands of U.S. Marines lost their lives beginning Feb. 17, 1945.

DerBoghosian was stationed on the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Canberra, which was part of a carrier task force, and will recount what the task force did before the invasion of Iwo Jima by the U.S. Marine Corps.

A short business meeting will include an update on membership and finances. Honorary life members are required to pay $10.50 yearly for membership dues and regular members $23.

All members must have a paid-up 2005 year membership card and all those who have not paid their dues can attend and do so.

Coffee and refreshments will be served.

For more information people can contact Jerry DerBoghosian at 782-5700 or 353-7435.