State of Missouri Presents Mighty Mo's Original Silver Place Setting to Battleship Missouri Memorial
Pearl Harbor, HI – (June 6, 2017) – Today, the State of Missouri, namesake for America’s last battleship, the USS Missouri, strengthened its ties with the iconic Mighty Mo and its lasting legacy on Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor with a historic donation to the Battleship Missouri Memorial.
At a private ceremony in the ship’s Captain’s Cabin, dignitaries from the State of Missouri presented an original silver place setting used by officers aboard the USS Missouri after World War II. Representatives from Missouri included Sam Bushman, the Presiding Commissioner of Cole County, Anthony Bamvakais, the Military Executive for the Missouri National Guard Office of the Adjutant General and Hal Dulle, the Chair of the USS Jefferson City Submarine Committee.
"We brought this silver home to the State of Missouri after the ship's decommissioning in 1992, and now, 25 years later, we are delighted to come full circle and bring this important piece of history back to be displayed at Pearl Harbor,” said Bushman.
The State of Missouri appropriated $10,000 in 1947 for the creation of the 281-piece silver set. It was delivered to the ship while it was docked in Norfolk, Virginia in 1948. Previously housed in the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, the silver place setting includes sixteen individual pieces, including forks, knives, spoons, plates, a goblet and a salt and pepper shaker. It will be displayed in a custom display case in the Wardroom of the USS Missouri.
Accepting the State of Missouri’s donation on behalf of the Battleship Missouri Memorial were Tim Guard, Chairman of the Board, and Michael Carr, President and CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, the organization charged with caring for the Mighty Mo in Pearl Harbor and sharing the story of its history-making achievements with visitors from around the world.
"Everyone here at the Battleship Missouri Memorial expresses their profound appreciation to the State of Missouri for bringing this fabulous artifact with a rich and marvelous history back aboard the USS Missouri,” said Guard.
"Our mission is to preserve the Battleship Missouri and share her story and place in history. The story behind this silver is one we are excited to be able to share with visitors worldwide,” added Carr.
Having the retired USS Missouri, site for the end of World War II on September 2, 1945, being berthed in Pearl Harbor is especially appropriate as the gigantic battleship rests bow-to-bow to the sunken USS Arizona, the eternal symbol of America’s entry into the war.
Video link to b-roll and interviews from today’s ceremony: http://bit.ly/MissouriSilver
Please credit all images to the Battleship Missouri Memorial.
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Caption: The antique silver place setting the State of Missouri presented the USS Missouri Memorial Association.
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Caption: Left to right: Sam Bushman, Mike Carr, and Tim Guard.
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Caption: The Mighty Mo’s original silver was presented to the USS Missouri Memorial Association in a private ceremony in the ship’s Captain’s Cabin.
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 impressive 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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