Peace Time: February 20, 2002

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: On Valentine's Day 2002, three New Jersey couples were married about the Iowa-class battleship USS New Jersey (BB62), currently moored in the Delaware River at Camden and serving as a memorial museum. Admiral Thomas Seigenthaler, USN (Ret), executive director of the battleship's museum and memorial, said the weddings were the first believed ever to take place on the 887-foot-long battleship and were among many firsts that have occurred on board. Even in the 21st century, a reconditioned BB-62 would be capable of delivering a tremendous amount of ordnance and the USN allegedly keeps a short leash on this floating artifact. An October 1999 article in ARMED FORCES JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL (www.usnfsa.com/articles/afji_nationalassetts.pdf) even articulated how an IOWA class battleship could put more steel on target than an aircraft carrier. Visit the New Jersey's website at www.bb62museum.org or http://www.battleshipnj.org, then read about the battleship's trip home at http://www.battleship-newjersey.org - Adam Geibel