Bill Text: NJ AJR202 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates May 23 as "Battleship USS New Jersey Day."
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-24 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [AJR202 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AJR202-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PATRICIA EGAN JONES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Designates May 23 as "Battleship USS New Jersey Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating May 23 as "Battleship USS New Jersey Day."
Whereas, The battleship USS New Jersey was commissioned into the United States Navy on May 23, 1943, and was the second Navy ship named after the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey served a total of 21 years in the active fleet, and received 19 Battle and Campaign Stars over the course of this service; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey was built by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and was christened by Mrs. Carolyn Edison, wife of New Jersey Governor Charles Edison, on December 7, 1942, exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey served as the Flagship of the United States Navy's Fifth Fleet starting in 1944, and served in the Pacific Theater of World War II; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey saw action in the Battles of Guam, Okinawa, Truk, and other naval engagements against the Japanese, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history; and
Whereas, After the surrender of Japan, the USS New Jersey served as the flagship of naval forces in Japanese waters, before taking part in several training voyages in the Atlantic and Mediterranean and being decommissioned in 1948; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey was recommissioned in 1950 and served two tours of duty in the Korean War, providing offshore fire support for military actions and bombardment targeted to enemy railroads, tunnels, supply and ammunition depots, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, bridges, dams, oil refineries, bunkers, and other targets; and
Whereas, Following the conclusion of the Korean War, the USS New Jersey sailed on several training voyages in the Atlantic and Caribbean and participated in NATO exercises, before being decommissioned in 1957; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey was recommissioned in 1968 for service in the Vietnam War, bombarding targets along the Vietnamese coast for two tours of duty as the only active battleship in the world before being decommissioned again in 1969; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey received a Navy Unit Commendation for her service in Vietnam; and
Whereas, The USS New Jersey was recommissioned for the final time in 1982, to provide support for American citizens during the Lebanese Civil War, and to bombard Syrian Army targets and other targets in support of the Lebanese Army; and
Whereas, After serving in operations in the Persian Gulf prior to Operation Desert Storm, the USS New Jersey was decommissioned for the final time in 1991; and
Whereas, After being towed to Philadelphia in 1999, the USS New Jersey was donated to the Home Port Alliance of Camden, New Jersey, for use as a floating museum, where the ship is open to the public; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. May 23 of each year is designated as Battleship USS New Jersey Day in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the distinguished history of this ship.
2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation and call upon public officials, private organizations and all citizens of this State to observe this celebration each year with appropriate events and activities.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution declares May 23 to be "Battleship USS New Jersey Day." May 23 is the date in 1944 that the battleship USS New Jersey, currently serving as a floating museum in Camden, was commissioned into the United States Navy.
The battleship USS New Jersey saw service over a combined 21 years of active duty, in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and in support of American operations in various conflicts in the Middle East, until it was decommissioned for the final time in 1991. The battleship earned 19 Battle and Campaign Stars over the course of its service, and served as a flagship for several different admirals. During its service in Vietnam, it was the only active battleship in the world.
