Battleship Missouri Memorial Salutes U.S. Armed Forces with Military Appreciation Month tour special Published May 10, 2007 U.S. NAVAL STATION PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Throughout Military Appreciation Month this May, the Battleship Missouri Memorial will offer 50 percent off all tours to active-duty, reserve and retired U.S. military personnel with purchase of admission. To qualify, servicemen and women must present a valid Department of Defense ID when purchasing their tours in advance through MWR. In addition, military personnel dressed in uniform receive complimentary admission year-round at the memorial's gate. "We are honored most when visited by members of our Armed Forces," said retired Navy Capt. Don Hess, president and chief operating officer of the memorial. "I'd like to encourage all military personnel, friends and family to experience the Mighty Mo's more exclusive areas on a guided tour. Even many of the sailors and Marines who served aboard the Missouri tell me that only now that the ship is open to public tours can they see areas such as the captain's cabin, officers' and chiefs' spaces, and areas previously marked highly classified." Each of the Missouri's tours features exclusive highlights, but all tours culminate on the Surrender Deck, site of Japan's unconditional surrender that ended World War II. The Battleship Guided Tour (editor's note: formerly the Chief's Guided Tour) is a 60-minute walking tour led by a knowledgeable guide that provides a comprehensive overview of the Missouri's five decades of service through three wars - World War II, the Korean War and Operation Desert Storm. This tour offers exclusive access into the ship's missile-guidance nerve center, the Combat Engagement Center (CEC). The Digital Audio Tour offers visitors an in-depth, audio tour that they can enjoy at their own pace. The audio tour features more than two hours of recorded information and excerpts from historic figures and veterans, allowing visitors to listen to as little or as much as they like. The Explorer's Tour is a 90-minute guided walking tour for the more adventurous-at-heart. This tour provides an insider's view of the battleship with more exclusive access to restricted areas than any other of the Missouri's tours. Visitors are led down as far as four levels below the main deck to see the fire and engine rooms, battery plots, machine ship and brig (ship's jail), as well as the mess deck and post office. "Explorers" also venture inside the massive Turret No. 1 and famous "Broadway," a corridor extending two-thirds of the ship's length. Flashlights, safety vests, and hard hats are issued, along with complimentary bottled water and a souvenir lanyard. The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. General admission is $16 per adult and $8 per child 4-12. Military and kama'aina (local resident) rates are $10 per adult and $5 per child. U.S. military personnel in uniform receive complimentary admission. Tour upgrades are available starting at $7 additional for the Battleship Guided Tour or Digital Audio Tour, and $33 additional for the premium Explorer's Tour. For more information or to reserve a tour, call toll-free at 1-877-MIGHTYMO (1-877-644-4896) or visit www.ussmissouri.org. The battleship Missouri is an American icon maintained under the tireless care of the staff and volunteers of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a private Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to create and maintain a fitting memorial to the people and historic events reflecting our nation's legacy of duty, honor, strength, resolve and sacrifice. The Battleship Missouri Memorial does not receive government funding. The memorial's continued success is made possible by the support of its visitors, grants, memberships and the generosity of donors.