Battleship Missouri Memorial to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of the End of WWII, September 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BATTLESHIP MISSOURI MEMORIAL TO COMMEMORATE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II, SEPTEMBER 2

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz to Present the Keynote Address

(NOTE: Media wanting to cover the ceremony are asked to RSVP to Jaclyn Hawse of the Battleship Missouri Memorial at jaclynh@ussmissouri.org or 808-455-1600, ext. 246, by Friday, August 28. For access to the Battleship Missouri Memorial, a Public Affairs Officer from Navy Region Public Affairs must escort media members across the Ford Island Bridge. Please meet the media escort at Schooners Restaurant, 57 Arizona Memorial Drive, Bldg. 604, on Wednesday, September 2, at 8:00 a.m.)

Pearl Harbor, HI – (August 6, 2015) – The USS Missouri Memorial Association will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II with a ceremony at the Battleship Missouri Memorial themed, “The Day that Launched a Better Future,” on Wednesday, September 2, 2015.

Held on the forward pier where the retired USS Missouri is berthed in Pearl Harbor, the ceremony will begin at 9:02 a.m. That is the exact time on September 2, 1945 when General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, began the formal proceedings for Imperial Japan’s surrender, heard on radio worldwide, to bring history’s most destructive war to an end.

The ceremony will honor the veterans of World War II, recognizing how their sacrifice and bravery not only restored world peace 70 years ago, but also ushered in a new era of international collaboration, partnership and friendship between former enemies that continues today.

Michael Carr, president and CEO of the Battleship Missouri Memorial, said, “Here in hallowed Pearl Harbor, in the presence of the USS Missouri and USS Arizona memorials – the two iconic battleships representing America’s ‘bookends’ of World War II – this ceremony provides a special opportunity to honor the extraordinary sacrifice and service of our veterans, while memorializing one of the most significant dates in world history.”

The ceremony’s keynote address will be delivered by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Admiral Scott Swift, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will also address attendees as the ceremony’s distinguished guest speaker, sharing his perspective on the significance of the anniversary and the lasting impact that World War II has had on the nation’s Armed Forces.

Also speaking at the ceremony will be U.S. Representative Mark Takai (HI-01) who, along with several members of the House Armed Services Committee in attendance, will present an Award of Special Congressional Recognition to the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Tim Guard, Chairman of the Board for the USS Missouri Memorial Association, will also present remarks.

The commemoration by the Battleship Missouri Memorial will feature an exhibit of rare historic artifacts that were part of the ceremony 70 years ago, including the two pens used by Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz to sign the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the United States, and one of the pens used by General MacArthur as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. The pens are on loan from the US Naval Academy Museum, the MacArthur Memorial and the Nanjing Museum in China. The event will also include participation from Hawaii’s military community and a student essay contest winner.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. To reserve a seat and receive complimentary round-trip shuttle service to the ceremony from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, guests are encouraged to RSVP by August 20 via e-mail at RSVP@ussmissouri.org.

For those who are unable to attend the ceremony in person, the Battleship Missouri Memorial will be LIVE streaming the entire event on its website at https://ussmissouri.org. 

For more information about the event, please visit: https://ussmissouri.org/get-involved/events/end-of-wwii-commemoration/.

Battleship Missouri Memorial

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 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 5:00 p.m. during the summer months. 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.

# # #

Media Contact:

Ashley Nagaoka
(808) 238-1724
Ashley.Nagaoka@anthologygroup.com    

Jaclyn Hawse
(808) 455-1600 ext. 246
JaclynH@ussmissouri.org