Posted on: Monday, September 1, 2003

'Mighty Mo' to mark 58th anniversary of war's end

Advertiser Staff

The Battleship Missouri Memorial will commemorate the 58th anniversary of the end of World War II tomorrow at 8:45 a.m. at Ford Island, Pier F-5.

Capt. Albert Lee Kaiss, the 20th and 23rd captain of the "Mighty Mo," will deliver the keynote address before an audience of 70 to 100 visiting veterans and former USS Missouri crew members.

Paul P. Sullivan, president of the USS Missouri (BB-63) Association, will be a guest speaker; Capt. Don Hess, president and chief operating officer of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The 8:45 a.m. event is timed to coincide with the moment the surrender documents were signed aboard the Mighty Mo in 1945.

The ceremony will also feature performances by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band; the ceremonial Four Bells performed by Pearl Harbor personnel; and a 21-rifle salute, echo taps and colors by the Navy Region Hawaii Ceremonial Guard.