FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Battleship Missouri Commemorates
67th Anniversary of the End of WWII
Senior Archivist of MacArthur Memorial Among Guest Speakers
Pearl Harbor, Sept. 2, 2012 — In commemoration of the 67th anniversary of Imperial
Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) that ended the world’s mostdevastating war, the Battleship Missouri Memorial held a free ceremony this morning on
the ship’s fantail.
Keynote speaker, James Zobel, Senior Archivist for the General Douglas MacArthur
Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, highlighted the ceremony. Zobel spoke on the importancethat World War II and the surrender had in shaping today’s world.
Christian Wells of Radford High School winner of the “MacArthur’s Words” essay contest
read his inspirational essay. Wells’ essay explained the relevance and applicability ofMacArthur’s famous change must “be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh” line in today’sworld. USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. board member Mark Polivka offeredremarks on behalf of the nonprofit organization that today is entrusted with the care andoperation of America’s last battleship. Samantha Peterson and Corey Snider’s essays earned
them second and third respectively.
The ceremony featured patriotic music performed by the Pacific Fleet Band, a rifle salute,
Echo Taps, and a special Old Glory Detail by the Naval Health Clinic Hawaii.
The flag from the Old Glory presentation was given to GM1 Danny Poling, United States
Navy (RET). GM1 Poling is a native of Columbus, OH but now calls South Carolina home.
GM1 Poling served his country for 20 years from 1942 – 1962 and has the rareaccomplishment of serving in all of World War II’s major theaters of operation and theKorean war, making both of the USS Missouri’s deployments to the Korean peninsula.
The formal surrender occurred months following V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day), May 8,1945, when German troops laid down their arms after Germany surrendered to AlliedNations. Japan announced its surrender on Aug. 15 (Japan time) but formalized theagreement on Sept. 2 aboard the USS Missouri, thereby signifying the Allies’ victory overAxis Powers and restoring peace to the world.

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Pier Foxtrot-5, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor
63 Cowpens St. • Honolulu, HI 96818 • Ph: (808) 423-2263 • Fax: (808) 423-0700 • www.ussmissouri.org

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Following the ceremony guests toured the historic battleship including the site whereSupreme Allied Commander General Douglas MacArthur and representatives from 10
nations accepted Imperial Japan’s surrender. Guests were also amongst the first to enjoy
newly restored areas and exhibits aboard the ship.
An exhibit paying tribute to Edwin Asimakoupoulos, a Missouri Marine from the WWII era
who was the honor guard escorting the Russian General who signed on behalf of the Soviet
Union, was also unveiled. This exhibit honors all Marine Detachments stationed on theMissouri and is representative of the history and legacy of seagoing Marines from the timeof the Revolutionary War until the last seagoing Marine departed the ship in 1992.
Other new features include a revitalized Captain’s cabin display case and restoration ofthe Captain’s in-port cabin, new 1940’s berthing compartment and a fully restored
wardroom mural.
About James Zobel
James Zobel has been the Archivist at the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial inNorfolk, VA, for the past twenty years. He obtained a BA and MA in History from Old
Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. The MacArthur Memorial Archives is an international
research center dedicated to the preservation and research of materials related to the lifeand times of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. As Archivist, he has collected,organized, and catalogued the papers of General Douglas MacArthur, 18 of his subordinate
generals, and thousands of veterans who served in World War I, World War II, and theKorean War.
About the Battleship Missouri Memorial
The Battleship Missouri Memorial, located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona
Memorial, completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy”
that saw the sinking of USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor and ends with Imperial Japan’s
unconditional surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Following an astounding
career that spans five decades and three wars, from World War II to the Korean conflictto the Liberation of Kuwait, the “Mighty Mo” was decommissioned and donated to theUSS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which
operates the battleship as a historic attraction and memorial. The association oversees
her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants and thegenerosity of donors. The Battleship Missouri Memorial is one of Hawaii’s top 10
attractions according to Pacific Business News and starred in Universal Studios’
Battleship.

###Media Contact:Tyler Kruse(808) 539-3434
Tyler.Kruse@AnthologyGroup.com

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