The Battleship Missouri Memorial, the World War II battleship best known for hosting the formal surrender of Japan in 1945, on Wednesday will be the site of a ceremony marking the 64th anniversary of Japan's surrender.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, and Ret. Lt. Gen. Wallace "Chip" Gregson, newly sworn in as assistant secretary of defense, are scheduled to speak.

At least 20 World War II veterans are expected to attend, including 89-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor Edward F. Borucki of Southampton, Mass.

The 65-year-old ship is scheduled for drydock repairs in October estimated to cost $15 million.

Memorial officials have started warning Hawai'i tour operators they'll be shut down for three months starting mid-October. The historic ship is due to return to Pier Foxtrot 5 in early January and resume welcoming visitors shortly after. More than 400,000 visitors tour the vessel each year.

The Missouri was last in dry dock in 1992, just after it was decommissioned for the second and last time.