Reenlistment ceremony held on Battleship Missouri Memorial in honor of Sept. 11

Thirty-one service members of the Armed Forces reenlisted for duty this morning onboard the retired USS Missouri as the nation remembered the thousands of lives lost 13 years ago during the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

The special Joint Reenlistment Ceremony, held in partnership with the Battleship Missouri Memorial, took place on the forward main deck under the Missouri’s historic Gun Turret One, often referred to as the “Big Guns.”

Rear Admiral Alma M. Grocki, the deputy chief of staff for fleet maintenance with the U.S. Pacific Fleet, served as the reenlisting officer for today’s ceremony and administered the sacred oath to the men and women who recommitted themselves to serving in the Armed Forces and protecting our nation’s freedom at home and overseas.

“Today, we take a moment to reflect upon the tragic events that forever changed our nation and remember the lives taken during the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon,” said Michael Carr, president & CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. “Our utmost gratitude goes out to our men and women in uniform who defend our country and work tirelessly to safeguard our lives and liberty every day. We also extend our appreciation to the families of these soldiers, who share their loved ones so that we can live in a safer, more secure world.”

Reenlisting service members that took part in today’s ceremonies were invited to fly their own National Ensigns, and received a commemorative flag certificate from the USS Missouri Memorial Association.

Since opening Jan. 29, 1999, as the Battleship Missouri Memorial, military ceremonies have been conducted onboard the Mighty Mo on an almost daily basis, including reenlistments, promotions, retirements, and change of commands for personnel serving in all Armed Forces branches. As of Sept. 1, the Missouri has hosted 814 military ceremonies in 2014.