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Museum History Activities
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USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850 Destroyer Museum
at Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts.
KENNEDY Vietnam era veterans Mike Angelini (left) and Steve Wallace (back right) teach overnighters
about the ASROC system on DD850 and how we are restoring the ship.
Still Serving They protected us and our freedom in times when we needed them most. Now they continue their service, preserving the history they made not only by the labor and love put into restoring and maintaining our vessels, but also by the stories they tell. Our local veterans, by sharing personal accounts and their vast knowledge of our ships, provide some of the most valuable educational experiences that Battleship Cove has to offer. Our overnight camping program, Nautical Nights, hosts over 30,000 scouts and adults per year, and has been a vital forum for bringing veterans and young people together. For over fifteen years, our overnight campers have been privileged to interact with Armand Vigeant, former crewmember of our very own Battleship Massachusetts. Armand served on the ship before the day of her commissioning and long after the last day of her service, and has left indelible impressions on the thousands of people with whom he has shared his life and work. In hopes of bringing alive the history of another vessel in our fleet, the Kennedy, a program was developed in the spring of 2004 in which overnight campers have the opportunity to speak with Vietnam veterans about their experiences. In the words of volunteer Rich Angelini, “the children have a first-hand, real-life experience with sailors who served during the 60s in the same environment where these men worked. The guys are primary resources and so are the spaces where they’re teaching.” The program has been extremely successful and fulfilling to both the scouts and the volunteers. Bob Greening, also a former crewmember of the Battleship and a fellow destroyerman, says “we are privileged to be ‘living history’ and to personally share our experiences with these fine young boys and girls.” Steve Whynot, volunteer coordinator and former crewmember of the USS Trippe, finds great enjoyment in seeing “the interest that the kids and parents have when they are able to go someplace special like the bridge, DASH [Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter], or IC [Interior Communications].” Dave Margerum, who served aboard USS Glennon, works with scouts in the IC room, explaining “the operation of the navigational gyrocompass system.” Our shipfitter from the USS Stormes, Lee Jones, remembers one scout saying he would like to join the Navy. “I guess that if I was able to influence one scout I did my job.” Ed Zajkowski, former crewmember of the USS Keppler, recounted a story about a visually handicapped scout who came aboard Kennedy during his overnight stay. Ed set up a special tour for the boy and found creative ways to communicate Kennedy’s history and technology. For the scout, Ed says, “the thrill was overwhelming, [you] could see it in his face.” This intergenerational connection often provides, as volunteer Maury Crotteau of the USS Harwood would say, an “enlightening experience” for our esteemed veterans and volunteers as well. Of his day with the visually impaired scout, Ed says, “I learned a lot that day from that young man, he gave me a thrill, a real lesson in life.” This is the reason why we are here. The mission of Battleship Cove calls for the preservation of our historic vessels, both in a literal, physical sense, and in the more permanent legacy that we leave within the hearts and minds of our visitors. Our volunteers live this mission with everything they do and everyone they touch. Their victory is twofold, and essential to the preservation of our American identity. Jim Mulvihill of the USS Waldron says it beautifully. “When they come aboard, I tell them, this is your heritage. I tell them, the whole thing…it all belongs to you.”  Return to the Volunteer Page Comments, Suggestions, Information? Email us at: Webmaster DD-850 Copyright 2009 Kennedy Restoration Committee. 
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