Foundation rededicates base chapel Published April 28, 2014 By James Branch 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Ga. -- The Dobbins Chapel Foundation rededicated and transferred ownership of the base chapel to the Gen. Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center during a ceremony April 27. Military and civilian attendees filled every pew, recognizing the sacrifice and perserverance by many, to relocate the chapel from Dobbins Air Reserve Base to Clay NGC. Col. (Ret) John Powers, presiding official, presented a timeline of events, from the origin of the chapel, to its present location and ownership. As a member of the chapel foundation, which was established in 2005 after it was slated for demolition, he was appointed to lead the charge in preserving the chapel and its history. "My wife Ann and I were married in this chapel 44 years ago," said Powers. "When the wrecking ball was coming for it, members of this foundation could not just sit here and let that happen." Built in 1942, the chapel arrived at Dobbins Air Force Base in 1949. It was moved to Clay NGC in 2013. "This chapel was built to be the best of things during what some will call the worst of times," said Col. (Ret) Allen Withers, guest speaker and former 22nd Air Force chaplain. For many, the timeline of events and activities to relocate the chapel can be summed up with the love, sweat and tears. "One day during the ongoing struggle to save this chapel, a gentleman asked me, 'Do you think this chapel has a prayer?'" said Withers. "Well this afternoon, that prayer has been answered." Powers concluded the ceremony by signing over the official chapel documents to Maj. Gen. James B. Butterworth, adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard. "This is very exciting," said Butterworth. "There are a number of stories many of us can tell about how we arrived at this point." Butterworth noted that there are already requests for chapel usage for weddings and other ceremonies. "This building belongs to our family, and you are a part of that family," he said. The general recognized the Dobbins Chapel Foundation for their vision and hard work in saving the historic chapel.
