PRESS RELEASE
Contact Courtney Guertin
cguertin@battleshipcove.org
(508) 678-1100

Fall River Celebrates America
With a Phenomenal Vantage Point from Battleship Massachusetts

Fall River: With this year's Fall River Celebrates America promising to be as grandiose as ever, there is no better place to enjoy the festivities than on Fall River's famous WWII battleship, "Big Mamie."

It will be All Hands on Deck, Friday, August 8th at 5:00 PM, to watch the Parade of Ships sail by the U.S.S. Massachusetts. For $2 per person, guests of Battleship Cove will have the best vantage point in the city to see five magnificent ships:

• NOAA Vessel Rude - A research and data gathering vessel for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
• Tall Ship Providence - A 110' topsail sloop reproduction of the Revolutionary War vessel of the same name and the first command of John Paul Jones
• Tall Ship Gazela - A 177' historic Barkentine built in the shipyard of J. M. Mendes in Setubal in 1901 to carry fishermen to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Gazela is now owned by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild.
• Tall Ship Formidable - A replica of an 18th century Coast Guard Brigantine Square Rigger, the Formidable sits 77 feet long and calls Gloucester, MA, its homeport.
• Tall Ship Poincare - Tall Ship Formidable's sister ship, Poincare also resides in Gloucester, MA, and is now used for private charters and functions.

And then the festivities continue at 9:30 PM on Saturday, August 9th (doors open at 7:30 PM), when the U.S.S. Massachusetts will fire a five-inch salvo to signal the start of a dazzling fireworks display for all to enjoy from the fantail of the battleship. As part of the grand finale, the U.S.S. Massachusetts will once again fire her five-inch guns to conclude the evening's festivities. Tickets to watch this spectacle from the battleship are only $3 and are on sale now.

Battleship Cove is a maritime heritage museum preserving five National Historic Landmarks within the world's largest and most diverse collection of historic naval ships. Recently designated as the future site for the Commonwealth's official memorial for September 11th, Battleship Cove is Massachusetts' official memorial for World War II and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars.

Battleship Cove is open all day, 362 days each year. Free parking. Wardroom Grille. Gift shop. Private Functions. (508) 678-1100, (800) 533-3194; fax (508) 674-559; www.battleshipcove.org.

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