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Battleship New Jersey Celebrates 73rd Anniversary

by Justin Udo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Officials with The Battleship New Jersey celebrated the 73rd anniversary of her commissioning on Monday.

For the last 15 years, the decommissioned battleship has sat in the Camden Waterfront, serving as a museum and memorial to the wars she served in and her veterans.

"She was launched in the one year anniversary attack on Pearl Harbor. She fought in WWII, then brought back out again to fight in the Korean War, and then for the Vietnam War she was the only battleship in the world in the waters, then President Reagan brought her back again for the 80's. She's been commissioned four times," said Phil Rowan with the Battleship New Jersey.

Russell Collins is a Camden native who was stationed on the Battleship during WWII.

He delivered the keynote speech at Monday's celebration.

"We went through he whole war without anybody being killed, so I think that's a pretty good record. A lot of ships can't say that," said Collins.

the gathering included music, a wreath presentation, the firing of New Jersey's saluting gun, and of course, there was cake.

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