Tin Can Sailors - The National Association of Destroyer Veterans

A 501 (c) (3) Non Profit Organization

PRESS RELEASE

(2 pages)

February 28, 2008                                                                                                       Contact

Jacksonville, FL                                                                                                            Bert Watson

                                                                                                                                    904.353.1738

EX-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS GETS JACKSONVILLE

CITY COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT

The City Council of Jacksonville, Florida passed a Resolution supporting the establishment of the ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS as a Naval Ship Museum in Jacksonville. The CHARLES F. ADAMS is the first in the class of 23 guided missile destroyers built by the Navy in the 1960s. Currently, only one other DDG-2 class ship exists besides the Adams, and it’s in Germany moored as a museum.

The Adams Class Veterans Association (ACVA) started the effort to save the ADAMS as a museum by approaching at least three different cities. Complications successively sunk the first two efforts. Then the veterans focused on Jacksonville where they slowly gained some attention, incorporated a team, and systematically developed support in City Council, Council committees, City commissions, and received endorsements. After the Resolution passed out of two City Council committees, it went to the full Council for consideration. On February 26, 2008, the City Council unanimously passed an amendment to the Resolution that listed the entire Council as co-sponsoring the Resolution – and then quickly voted to pass the Resolution without dissent.

ACVA Board member Wayne Misenar, a retired Chief Warrant Officer, said that this was a day he has looked forward to for a number of years. “It’s a day I wasn’t sure I’d ever see.” The response to the ACVA from veterans expressing congratulations and quickly adding that they are available to volunteer to help bring the Adams back to her nimble state of readiness, at least as a museum, is gratifying. AVCA President Tom Crosser expressed appreciation for the progress to date and is very excited about the response from members of the AVCA and other ship organizations. “If we continue to get the support from members that we have seen in the last couple days, we will easily meet our goal to have a full list of volunteers to help bring her back to glory.” The ACVA’s reason for existing is to save the Adams and find her a home where she can serve the rest of her life educating and entertaining the public, veterans and children. The museum plans include memorializing all 23 ships in the class, including photos, memorabilia, and histories of the service of all the ships. According to retired Navy Captain Bob Branco, a former Commanding Officer of the Adams, “It’s appropriate to bring the ship back home to Jacksonville where she was home-ported for the last 23 years of her service.”

From here, the effort to save the Adams will include submitting an approximate 1,000 page Ship Donation Application to the Navy, and fundraising, fundraising, fundraising. Jacksonville team member Bert Watson knows very well what the ACVA is facing, but remains very optimistic. “I’ve been looking far into this tunnel for months, seeing a light and trying to decide if it was a train coming at me or not. I am very inspired by the capability of the ACVA team to put this Ship Donation Application together. It is definitely daylight in that tunnel.” But Watson also knows that the development of the Application must be matched by a successful fundraising campaign. The funding strategy will depend on three areas: (1) the DDG community strongly supporting the effort; (2) the greater Jacksonville community participating in large numbers; and (3) the business and corporate community playing their part. Between in-kind and monetary contributions, the $7 million cost to bring her to “museum ready status” is a realistic goal.

The quality of the attraction to be gained by the Jacksonville Community will be substantial. The organizers foresee the ADAMS being an exciting interactive and vibrant museum as well as the premier event venue in Jacksonville. There are no naval ship museums in Florida or Georgia, and both states have significant naval and military presence. Initial estimates suggest the Adams will be dedicated as the Jacksonville Historical Naval Ship Museum in mid-2010.

Additional information on the effort to establish ADAMS as a museum ship in Jacksonville can be found at the following web site, including information on how individuals and companies can make donations, volunteer, and participate: www.adamsclassddgvets.org .