The battleship does so much for veterans. They are currently collecting oral histories of former crew and submitting them to the Library of Congress.
I've been a Tour Guide on the Battleship New Jersey for 16 years. One day, a few years ago, a group of youngsters from a local facility that deals with children who have various mental disabilities, came aboard for a tour. Their "teacher" assured me they could all understand my presentation, so off we went. I gave same tour that I would give to any group that age.
On the Main Bridge there are 3 chairs, and I normally ask one of the youngsters in a group to sit in one of the chairs. A girl named Lorrie, who was probably about 12 years of age, volunteered. I went through my usual explanation that only the Captain got to sit in those chairs, and then I would normally say "so Lorrie here is in big trouble" In this case, I felt it would be better to say "So this must be Captain Lorrie". That got a nice laugh from the group. A few days later, a batch of hand written letters, one from each youngster, arrived in the mail. They were passed on to me. Everyone said they enjoyed the tour and commented about various things they had seen, but the thing that moved me the most was that a majority of them mentioned the "Captain Lorrie" scenario.
Bob Day, Tour Guide, Battleship New Jersey.
There are so few ways you can literally walk back into history. This is one of them. Few of us will ever know what WW2 was like, but a tour of this amazing ship will at least get you in the right direction.
I highly recommend taking the tour of the USS New Jersey on your next visit to south Jersey. I love the history and if you know a veteran take them with you as a "Thank You "for your service treat!
Seen this ship theday it came up river n then visited when it open when docked and i now live in Mississippi but when i come to visit Jersey the New Jersey is on my list to-do again just to see different from then to now!!
The Battleship New Jersey is a beautiful piece of American history, lovingly preserved and cared for. It's really breathtaking to visit in both its majesty and might.
The Home port Alliance has done a amazing job in keeping this piece of history alive for future generations!
My personal story about the Battleship NJ. My name is Phil Walmsley and I have been working on the Battleship NJ since March 2017 as a tour guide and a part-time Quarter Deck Officer. I have a family history with the Battleship NJ as my father was one of the approximately 5,000 men and women that built BB62 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. My father told us, when we were kids, that he welded his initials (GJW,JR) in the ship’s hull. So. When I am on the Battleship, I can feel his presence. When BB62 came back home from Bremerton WA, three generations of the Walmsley family were there to escort her up the Delaware River. My mother and daughter Kim were invited by Governor Whitman to sail with her and the other dignitaries on the ferry out of Cape May. I was on the river with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary as part of the security detail. It was one of my life’s greatest honors. As a tour guide, I thoroughly enjoy taking our guest around the ship and sharing the Battleship’s honored service to the US. I also enjoy sharing with the guests, what life was like on the ship during her 4 commissioning and the stories of the brave men who walked her decks. The favorite part of my tour guid duties is the honor of taking former crew members around the ship when they come back to visit. It is an extremely heart-warming and humbling moment for me. As a matter of fact, I was so moved after my first “plank-owner” tour I went home that night a turned a pen out of an actual piece of the Battlesip’s teak deck and I sent the pen to the plank-owner who resides in Connecticut. I retired from GlaxoSithKline after 42 years of service and I have found a new home on the Battleship. I was always told to find something that you love to do and you will never work a day in your life. I have found that“something” and it is working on the Battleship NJ. It is both an honor and a privilege to be associated with the Battleship NJ and I plan on being associated with the ship for many years to come. Everyone that I have encountered, that are part of the ship’s museum crew, from Phil Rowan, to Jack Willard, to my fellow tour guides, to maintenance, security and the other volunteers, are all top notch individuals and it is a pleasure to be working with them. Well that is my story and thank you for taking the time to read it. If you are ever in town, don’t forget to visit the Battleship NJ. It is and experience that you will never forget. Warm regards, PHIL Walmsley.
I had never been on a battleship before, and the Battleship New Jersey blew my expectations out of the water (pun intended). The firepower tour was awe-inspiring---it really brought home how impressive our Navy was and will be for future generations. The tour guides are very informative and well-trained. We are very lucky to have a bit of history docked on the Camden waterfront.
The Battleship USS New Jersey is an amazing piece of American history! THE most decorated battleship in Navy history, leaves you in awe! It is definitely something young & old should experience. Those that are more "adventurous", can actually sleep overnight in the bunks, & have breakfast in the mess the next morning--just like the sailors! Make a plan to visit and bring the kids, for a day they won't forget! And please donate whatever you can, and as often as you can, for this incredible nonprofit museum. Donations are what will keep this going for generations to come!
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I'm a volunteer on the Battleship New Jersey. Not to be biased but, it's an amazing piece of history! Everyone should visit at least once to learn about the legacy of this proud ship!! They don't teach this stuff in school anymore, so take the kids and watch their eyes light up. It's very much worth the trip.
