2010-06-23 / News
Photo
Naval Air Station Kingsville held a ribbon cutting ceremony June 18 for the reopening McFall Memorial Chapel. The chapel is named after Chaplain (Lt.) William McFall,
one of the first NAS chaplains, who died in action on Dec. 12, 1943, while serving in the Southwest Pacific. The first chapel on base was built in 1942. Throughout the years, the
building had undergone several renovations and modernizations. However, due to major foundation issues, the facility was closed in late 2008. The command began a search for
funding for a major renovation of the facility in early 2009, a process that took nearly eight months. Once funding was obtained, a contract bid was solicited. Work finally began
on the new chapel in November 2009, with the contractor taking the building down to the foundation. In the demolition, a number of the historic items from the old chapel
were preserved so that they could be included in the new facility, including the historic stain glass windows, pews, and some of the stage items. The new facility features a South
Texas look, with stucco exterior walls and metal roof. McFall Memorial Chapel will continue to be a house of worship for all faiths and will be available for weddings, funerals,
command ceremonies and other appropriate events. (Photos by AC3 Kiana Kahlbaum, NAS Kingsville Public Affairs.)
