PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII —In celebration of the 68th anniversary of the USS Missouri’s (BB-63) launching and 13th anniversary of the ship’s opening as a memorial in Pearl Harbor the Battleship Missouri Memorial is offering free admission to kamaaina and military personnel on Saturday, Jan. 28. Gates open at 8:00 a.m., and the festivities, which including band performances, educational activities, Battleship game stations, a free Battleship birthday party giveaway and a volunteer recognition ceremony, will begin at 9:00 a.m. The day’s events will culminate with a toast at 1:04 p.m.; the time the USS Missouri was christened by Margaret Truman at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1944.
The free “Mighty Mo Pass” is valid for all active-duty and retired military personnel and their dependants with valid military IDs, as well as all Hawaii residents with State of Hawaii photo IDs (such as driver’s licenses). It will include admission and the choice between a guided and self-guided tour options. The retail store will also be holding a one-day sale of 13 percent off any purchase of $13 or more and a free dog tag with a completed “Battleship Missouri Passport”.
“Sixty eight years and she’s still an awe-inspiring beauty; thanks in large part to the countless men and women who have volunteered their time to the maintenance and restoration of this historic ship. It is fitting that we recognize these volunteers on such a significant day for the Missouri,” said Michael A. Carr, the Missouri’s president and chief operating officer. “We are also thankful for the kamaaina and military community for the 13 years of tremendous support they’ve shown since we opened as a memorial.”
The Missouri is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For those without access into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, shuttle buses provide roundtrip transportation from the new Pearl Harbor Visitor Center during operating hours. Standard admission, which includes choice of a guided tour, is $22 per adult and $11 per child 4-12. For more information or to reserve a tour, call 973-2494 on Oahu, toll-free at 1-877-MIGHTYMO (1-877-644-4896) or visit ussmissouri.org.
The Battleship Missouri Memorial, located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial, completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the day of infamy that saw the sinking of USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor and ends with Imperial Japan’s unconditional surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Following an astounding career that spans five decades and three wars, from World War II to the Korean conflict to the Liberation of Kuwait, the “Mighty Mo” was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which operates the battleship as a historic attraction and memorial. The association oversees her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants and the generosity of donors. For more information, visit ussmissouri.org.
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