Special ceremony to feature Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Harvey Barnum, Jr., USMC (Ret.), BGen Dustin Byrum, and Congressman Donald Norcross
CAMDEN, N.J. — The Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11, honoring all who served, with a special tribute to the United States Marine Corps on their 250th Birthday.
This year’s ceremony will feature Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., USMC (Ret.) and Brigadier General Dustin “Warren” Byrum, USMC, Deputy Assistant Commandant for Aviation. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-1), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and longtime advocate for veterans and the Battleship, will also deliver remarks.
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to a ceremonial cake cutting under the fantail tent celebrating both Veterans Day and the Marine Corps’ 250th Birthday, and a 1:00 p.m. ribbon cutting for the newly restored Marine Detachment (MARDET) berthing space—now open to the public for the first time as part of the Battleship’s tour route.
“Marines have been an integral part of the New Jersey’s story from her first commissioning in 1943,” said Marshall Spevak, CEO of the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial. “We’re honored to welcome Colonel Barnum, Brigadier General Byrum, Congressman Norcross, veterans, and hundreds of Marines aboard the nations most decorated Battleship to celebrate their unparallel legacy of warfighting and sea service.”
“The Battleship New Jersey will always hold a special place in my heart and in the hearts of those who served aboard her,” said CAPT Walt Urban, USN (Ret.), chair of the Battleship’s Military Advisory Committee. “This ship tells the story of generations of sailors and Marines who stood the watch together in defense of our nation. As we celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday, it’s an honor to do so aboard the New Jersey—where the spirit of service, sacrifice, and camaraderie between our sea services is alive and well.”
Thousands of Marines served aboard USS New Jersey (BB-62) across three of the ship’s four commissioning’s—in World War II, Korea, and the 1980s—as part of the ship’s Marine Detachment responsible for shipboard security and gunnery operations. Likewise, the Battleship New Jersey has a long history of providing naval gunfire support for Marines in active combat zones in the Pacific in World War II, Vietnam, and Beirut.Â
The ceremony and ribbon cutting are free and open to the public, though seating is limited. There will also be a livestream of the event on the Battleship’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Complimentary coffee and refreshments will be provided under the fantail tent following the ceremony.
For details, visit www.battleshipnewjersey.org.
