By Paul Kurtz

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — The Battleship New Jersey is one year older today, and to celebrate the event supporters have announced plans to give the aging museum on the Delaware River a makeover.

While the ship itself is still in good shape, the deck is not, according to Phil Rowan, president of the Home Port Alliance.

“These decks, many of which have been here since the earliest days of the ship, are in major need of replacement,” he told KYW Newsradio today.  “The teak decks here — and some of the wood is not teak — we want to replace it all with teak, so we’re launching a campaign to raise $8 million over the next five years to replace all the decks on this ship.”

The campaign is called “Dollars for the Decks.”

Shortly after making his announcement, Rowan (below left) received a check for $1,000 from a Moorestown VFW post.

(Phil Rowan accepts a check from members of a Moorestown, NJ VFW post for repairs on the Battleship New Jersey. Credit: Paul Kurtz)

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