PEARL HARBOR– The Battleship Missouri Memorial announced today the launch of “Ship it Forward,” a Facebook contest open to participants in every state and culminating with the awarding of a grand prize airfare for two people to Honolulu, home to the retired USS Missouri.
The Missouri’s eye-catching new “Battlehead” foam headgear, designed in the shape of the “Mighty Mo,” (see image below) will determine the submittal of contest entries, which are being accepted from August 18 – October 22, 2014. The grand prizewinner will be announced October 27, and receive a gift certificate for round-trip airfare to Honolulu for them and one guest.
“We’re thankful for the loyal support of our Facebook fans and invite them to be a Battlehead ambassador and share the Mighty Mo’s story with this new contest,” said Jaclyn Hawse, Director of Communications and Business Development for the Battleship Missouri Memorial. “Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri will always hold a special place in the hearts of people throughout the nation. We want to inspire participants in this friendly competition to show the pride they have for their hometown and our country.”
America’s last and most famous battleship and the site where World War II ended, the gigantic Mighty Mo stretches nearly three football fields in length and is 20 stories tall from keel to mast. The retired USS Missouri is berthed bow-to-bow to the sunken USS Arizona, creating a stirring bond between the two battleships signifying the beginning and end of World War II for the United States.
The contest begins with a “Battlehead ambassador” being selected from each state on a first-come, first-served basis in response to the call-to-action on the Missouri’s Facebook page. Each lucky ambassador will be shipped a complimentary “Battlehead.” They are then required to take a photo wearing the Mighty Mo hat at a historic location in their hometown, then post it to the Missouri’s Facebook page using the hashtag #shipitforward and hashtag of their home state (e.g. #Hawaii). The photo post will serve as their contest entry.
Battlehead ambassadors are then asked to “ship it forward” by sharing the unique headwear with friends and family and encouraging them to post their own entries. Entrants from the state posting the most Battlehead “mileage,” or contest entries, to the Missouri’s Facebook page will become eligible for the grand prize drawing.
In addition, one first-prize winner will be selected from the entire pool of participants to receive a $100 gift card to the Battleshop, the gift store located on Pier Foxtrot-5, where the USS Missouri is berthed. Battleshop products can also be ordered online at https://bb63.stores.yahoo.net/.
No purchase is necessary to enter the contest, which is open to all legal U.S. residents, ages 18 years and older. Official rules and prize descriptions can be found at https://tinyurl.com/mno2v7t.
Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 6-million visitors from around the world with a fascinating tour experience showcasing the USS Missouri’s unique place in history. Located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial, the Mighty Mo completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy” and sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and ends with Imperial Japan’s surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
The USS Missouri had an astounding career over five decades and three wars – World War II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm – after which it was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial as a historic attraction and oversees her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants, and donations.
The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during summer (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the rest of the year). General admission, which includes choice of an optional tour, is $25 per adult and $13 per child (4-12). Military, kama‘aina (local resident) and school group pricing is available. For information or reservations, call (toll-free) 1-877-644-4896 or visit USSMissouri.org.