1965 - 2015 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS SPONSORED BY $3.95 heraldnews.com/battleshipcove We want to celebrate those people “We have an extremely hardworking involved in first bringing the USS crew of staff and volunteers here. We Massachusetts here, as well as sup- always have more to do than can pos- porting it all these years. Our goal is sibly be done, but we all have such a to remind Fall River to be proud of its great love for this ship and this place. history and its people.” — Christopher Nardi, Battleship Cove Museum curator who has been working at the museum for almost 30 years — Brad King, Executive Director of Battleship Cove IN THEIR WORDS Now that the World War II vets are “I leave them with great sadness; largely no longer with us, we have to it’s been a long run. be able to tell their story in a 21st cen- — Bernie Silveria, the president of the USS tury fashion.” Massachusetts crew members group, of their final reunion — Carl Sawejko, Battleship Cove Board of Directors President I spent my time on school kids. I met “I am a hopeful person by nature, and every school superintendent in Bristol the Battleship has as capable an execu- County. We raised quite a bit of tive director as it has ever had in Brad money that way.” King. I strongly believe in the future of — Bill Torpey, retired head of the State Pier Battleship Cove. — Joseph Feitelberg, former USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee President. 2BATTLESHIP COVE: 50 YEARS THE TEAM A NOTE FROM OUR SPONSOR CONTENTS Sean Burke 4 Arrival of a legend PRESIDENT, GROUP PUBLISHER Cove’s 50-year history GateHouse Media New England 6 Built to last Lisa Strattan PRESERVATION A journey that began in Quincy SVP/EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER 7 24 hours at sea Wicked Local A day in the life of a seaman Mark Olivieri PUBLISHER CELEBRATION 8 Bringing in a battleship The Herald News The effort to obtain the USS Taunton Daily Gazette ack in 1965 and largest collection of historic naval Massachusetts Lynne Sullivan the year leading up ships, along with the official state 10 No small task EDITOR-IN-CHIEF to it, an unprec- memorials for World War II, the Big Mamie almost ended up Emely DelSanto edented commu- Vietnam War, Korean War, Gulf elsewhere PAGE DESIGNER nity effort brought Wars and the September 11, 2001, the Battleship attacks. 12 Small recruits Battleship Cove: 50 Years is a special Youngest helpers, biggest funds publication of The Herald News. Massachusetts to the Festivities to mark the grand © 2015 GateHouse Media. No repro- shores of Fall River, establishing occasion of the ship’s arrival begin 14 The next 50 years duction or reuse of material without the what would become Battleship Cove Sunday, Aug. 9. Included — appro- From Battleship Cove’s director express written consent of GateHouse B on the city’s historic waterfront. priately — is a student reception on Media. All rights reserved. Through the rapid and earnest Tuesday. The official commemora- 15 Step back in time Tidbits of life from 1965 To request permission to reprint any efforts of the USS Massachusetts tion takes place aboard the battle- material from this publication, please contact Mark Olivieri at publisher@ Memorial Committee, enough ship on Thursday and a citywide 16 What’s at the Cove heraldnews.com. money was raised to save “Big parade is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. Ships and more Mamie” from the scrap heap and 16. An abundance of activities takes To order additional copies, call 1-888- 18 Ship’s history MY-PAPER (697-2737). return the veteran battleship from place throughout the entire week. Timeline of a battleship Virginia to its home state. Most Learn more about the past, present endearingly, among the donors to and future of Battleship Cove in this 20 Into the future the effort were more than 6,000 special commemorative edition. What’s up next for the Cove schoolchildren who saved their pen- Unifying behind a common 22 Go explore nies, literally, to bolster the cause. purpose was not only what brought See other attractions nearby To this day, the remarkable fund- the USS Massachusetts to Fall raising campaign is referenced with River’s shores, it’s what resides at 24 A final reunion pride. the core of “community,” of who 70th meeting of ship’s crew BayCoast Bank is likewise proud we are. “Don’t Give Up the Ship” 25 Week to celebrate to support the endeavor to recog- is a common Navy refrain, a senti- Cove hosts anniversary events nize and celebrate the 50th anni- ment BayCoast Bank wholeheart- versary of the USS Massachusetts’ edly endorses, yesteryear, today and 28 Under the rust arrival to Fall River’s waterfront. tomorrow. A trip to Boston for repairs The shared values and ideals that 31 Old-fashioned fight 50 years ago compelled youngsters Boxing on board the battleship to bust open their piggy banks Sincerely, and adults to dig deep into their 32 Trivia time pockets, are on display today in the Nicholas Test your ship knowledge magnificent treasure of Battleship M. Christ 34 Ship scenes Cove, which now boasts the world’s President & CEO The Cove, in pictures BayCoast Bank 35 Numbers to know SPONSORED BY BATTLESHIP COVE: 50 YEARS 3 File Photos BELOW: The USS Massachusetts arrives in Fall River on June 12, 1965. OPPOSITE: Big Mamie, a BB-59 battle- ship, rests in its original berth before being brought to what would become Battleship Cove. ARRIVAL OF ALEGEND STEPHANIE LEOMBRUNO CORRESPONDENT BEGUN WITH BIG leasing a group of visi- that is exactly what Battleship Cove tors consisting of chil- has been doing for half a century. MAMIE, THE 50YEAR dren, seniors, families, This week, the maritime heritage JOURNEY OF war veterans and his- museum will celebrate its 50th anni- torians may seem like versary with festivities sure to please BATTLESHIP COVE Pan impossible task, yet and inspire every type of visitor. 4BATTLESHIP COVE: 50 YEARS “This commemoration is meant to celebrate the people that made Battleship Cove possible,” said Brad King, executive director of Battleship Cove. In 1964, the USS Massachusetts was slated for scrapping. “Citizens of Massachusetts, including veterans, schoolchildren, and politicians, formed a coalition and were able to stop this from hap- pening,” said King. “This celebra- tion is for them.” The USS Massachusetts was brought to the Fall River water- front on June 12, 1965, after being cheered by over half a mil- lion people standing along the shores of Narragansett Bay and the Taunton River during the journey. On Aug. 14, 1965, she was commemorated in a cer- emony that also declared the site the official World War II memo- rial for the state. The USS Massachusetts, or “Big Mamie” to her crew, had seen an illustrious military career. She was commissioned on May 12, 1942 in Boston, and went on to receive 11 battle stars for her service in World War II campaigns. The first year alone, Battleship Cove received over 250,000 visitors. The Battleship Cove of today would scarcely be rec- ognized by those early visi- tors. With the addition of the Destroyer, USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the submarine the USS Lionfish, PT Boats 617 and 796, the missile corvette Hiddensee, and world class exhibits “Our goal is to like The Pearl Harbor Experience As such, the commemoration cel- and Women Protecting US, remind Fall River to ebration will also honor its veterans place for reflection and remem- Battleship Cove is now the world’s in a number of events, including largest collection of historic naval be proud of its his- brance. The centerpiece of this room holding the 70th and final reunion will be a massive flag that once flew ships, and the site of five National tory and its people.” of the USS Massachusetts’ crew Historic Landmarks. on the USS Massachusetts. It has members who served during World been dubbed “the Casablanca flag,” “We have an extremely hard- — Brad King, executive War II. This reunion is the longest- working crew of staff and volunteers as it was hit during the Battle of director of Battleship Cove running annual reunion in the his- Casablanca in November 1942. In here,” said curator Christopher tory of the Navy. Nardi, who has been working at the spite of what was most likely an 8- The commemoration celebration inch artillery shell ripping through museum for almost 30 years. “We week, the museum and the sur- is just the beginning of what King always have more to do than can the middle and leaving a jagged, rounding area will hold events, and the crew of Battleship Cove have soot-stained hole, the flag remained possibly be done, but we all have including a variety of musical planned for the property and the such a great love for this ship and flying and in one piece through the performances, retro USO shows, city. Plans are under way to build rest of the battle. this place.” a Rosie the Riveter Look-a-Like and expand the indoor museum sec- Today, Battleship Cove, as “We’ve kept it well-preserved, Contest, car shows, dance canteens tion of the property, constructing and it’s ready to take its rightful America’s Fleet Museum, is one and a citywide parade. a brand new, beautifully styled of the top five most visited attrac- place,” said Nardi. The flag will be “We want to celebrate those building. “We have so many impor- on display during August’s festivities, tions in Massachusetts, boasting people involved in first bringing the tant pieces of history here,” said an impressive calendar of educa- before coming to rest in the Hall of USS Massachusetts here, as well as King.