LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Words of encouragement, faith and hope resonated throughout the iconic, Tudor-Gothic-styled chapel as the voices of worshippers punctuated the speech with subtle prayers of agreement. While this scene at the chapel on Dodd Boulevard is standard Sunday fare, this evening was rooted in a much deeper significance than usual.
The Langley Chapel celebrated its 75th anniversary during a special service June 6. Nearly every pew was occupied by members of the Langley community, excited and emotional about the occasion. The wing's corps of chaplains, including Capts. Asa Chung, Michael Hayhurst and Terri Gast, delivered readings and recognition between spiritual songs, preceding a special message from the Air Force chief of chaplains, Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil Richardson.
Richardson delivered a rousing message of hope, faith and perseverance, asking listeners to "cheer for one another" to combat the stress and hardships of life. The chaplain used current events, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the rise in military suicides to illustrate the roadblocks people face that make them question their faith.
"It's easy for us to raise our hands when we're atop the mountain and praise," he said. "It's when we get to the valleys we have trouble doing it. We need to depend on one another and, most importantly, on God."
In addition to Richardson's sermon, the chaplains honored retired master sergeant Benny Slonina, the chapel's longest serving member. Slonina has been a member of the Langley chapel since 1936, one year after the chapel's first service.
Chaplain (Maj.) Bill Burrell, the wing's senior protestant chaplain, led the congregation in a moving rededication of the chapel.
"We rededicate this House of Worship to the sanctity of the home and the hallowing of the uniqueness of military-family life," the rededication read. "To the religious nurture and education of children, youth and adults for those, stationed at Langley, who serve God and country."
The chapel's origins date back to Sept. 27, 1933, when the Quartermaster General of the Army granted permission for a chapel to be erected on base, then known as Langley Field. Construction began June 19, 1934, and was completed June 8, 1935. The first service, a christening, was performed at the chapel April 21, 1935, with the first regular Sunday service performed June 9 of that year.
"The chief of chaplains during the first service in 1935 compared the chapel to monuments of great deeds in American history including Yorktown, Bunker Hill, and Washington, D.C.," said Chaplain (Capt.) David Barns. "The chapel itself he said 'is a monument proclaiming that there is a God and symbolizing the belief in God.'"
The celebration provided not only a time of reflection on the many services, weddings and funerals hosted throughout the years, but an optimistic look into the future for the role of the chapel in supporting the modern warfighter and their family.
"While this anniversary service recognizes that the building is 75 years old, our focus is on the opportunities it provides to deeply foster the faith of those who enter the doors of the chapel," said Barns. "With the high operations tempo and continual deployments, we find that people are hurting. Sadly people often don't reach out for help until it is too late."
"Our message to the warfighter and their dependents is simple," he added. "We are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help in any way possible."
While time has changed the dynamic of war and, subsequently, the Airmen who fight those wars, the Chaplain Corps hopes the chapel will maintain its elegance and tradition in the years to come.
"God, let this place stay just the way it is," said Richardson, closing his presentation.