Operation Santa is Back and Spreading Christmas Cheer Straight from the Mighty Mo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OPERATION SANTA IS BACK AND SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER STRAIGHT FROM THE MIGHTY MO
4th Annual Overnight Stay for Keiki of Military Families
Pearl Harbor, HI – (December 10, 2022) – The Battleship Missouri Memorial hosted its 4th annual “Operation Santa,” an overnight encampment for keiki of deployed and active-duty military families stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. From Friday, December 9 at 4:00 p.m. to Saturday, December 10 at 8:30 a.m., 43 children ages 8-16 years old participated in Operation Santa 2022.
"We are very excited to welcome back "Operation Santa" after having to postpone this event for the past couple of years due to COVID-19," said, Mike Carr, president & CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. "We understand the challenges our military families face when a parent is deployed overseas during the holiday season and is why we make such a big effort to make Christmas as memorable as we can for these families."
Friday kicked off with an interactive tour of the USS Missouri followed by activities, games and a movie showing. The evening slowed down with a gourmet traditional Christmas dinner on the ship’s mess deck. Each keiki received a souvenir booklet, got a chance to earn an encampment graduation certificate, and had the opportunity to craft a special video message to send to their loved one overseas. Saturday morning families woke up to a surprise visit from Santa and gifts for every attending child.
“Operation Santa picked up right where it left off and had all the children beaming with joy and Christmas cheer,” said Dan Parsons, Director of Education at the USS Missouri Memorial Association. "Nothing is better than seeing the children's expressions and knowing we helped play a part in making their Christmas extra special."
Operation Santa 2022 was made possible with the support of the Military and Family Support Center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
About the Battleship Missouri Memorial
Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 9-million visitors from around the world with a compelling 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 Japan’s formal 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 4:00 p.m. Military, kama‘āina (local resident) and school group pricing is available. For information or reservations, call (808) 455-1600 or visit USSMissouri.org.
The USS Missouri Memorial Association is dedicated to preserving the Battleship Missouri and sharing her story and place in history. For information or reservations visit USSMissouri.org.
Please credit images to the Battleship Missouri Memorial
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Media Contact:
Danielle Thomson
(951) 746-0097
Danielle.Thomson@Finnpartners.com
Jaclyn Hawse
(808) 455-1600 x246
JaclynH@ussmissouri.org