"Mighty Mo" Volunteers Clock More than 18,000 Hours of Service

Battleship Missouri Memorial honors outstanding service at annual Volunteer Awards

Pearl Harbor, HI – (March 2, 2017) –Nearly 5,000 volunteers dedicated their time and energy aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial in 2016, providing over 18,000 hours of service, equaling more than $425,000 in savings to the ship. To show gratitude for those that went above and beyond, the USS Missouri Memorial Association honored five individuals and ten organizations for their outstanding commitment to preserving the historic battleship at its Volunteer Appreciation Day on February 25, 2017.

“As a nonprofit organization, we rely on our volunteers to help preserve and restore the ‘Mighty Mo’,” said Michael Carr, President and CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. “We wanted to honor our volunteers with a day of their own, to celebrate and thank them for all the hard work that they put forth to operate and maintain our ship.”

The full list of awards and recipients:

USS Missouri Memorial Award
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year 2016
John Bniniski

USS Missouri Legacy Award 2016
Outstanding Military Support
Eric Hayford

Truman Centennial Award
Outstanding Senior Volunteer 2016
George Mead

Big Guns Award 2016
Volunteer Jack of All Trades
Roy Taira

Outstanding Adopt-A-Space 2016
Executive Transport Detachment

Outstanding Military Support 2016
USS Jefferson City

Outstanding Military Group Support 2016
NIOC Hawaii

Outstanding Military Support 2016
USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53)

Outstanding Group Support 2016
Kiwanis Key Club

Outstanding Group Support v2016
Odd Fellows

Outstanding Military Support 2016
Naval Health Clinic Hawaii

Outstanding Group Support 2016
Easter Seals

Teak Support 2016
Fred Naylor

Outstanding Volunteer Group 2016
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Outstanding Military Group Support 2016
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyards

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 7-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 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. General admission, which includes choice of an optional tour, is $27 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.

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Please credit images to the Battleship Missouri Memorial

Caption: The crew of the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) always provides support and volunteers for the Mighty Mo’s signature events like the End of World War II Commemoration and Veterans Day Ceremony.

Media Contact:

Megan Hesselink
(808) 539-3430
Megan.Hesselink@AnthologyGroup.com

Jaclyn Hawse
(808) 455-1600 x246
JaclynH@ussmissouri.org