This WWII battleship was about to be scrapped. Then Alabama’s schoolchildren stepped in.

Alabama Schoolchildren’s Nickels and Dimes Save USS Alabama

In 1962, a small news item caught Jimmie Morris’s eye: the USS Alabama would soon be scrapped. He just couldn’t let that happen.

Morris got friends and the governor on board, but they faced a big problem – no cash. That’s when Alabama’s kids stepped up.

Over one million schoolchildren gave their lunch money and spare change, raising $100,000 when a dollar still meant something.

Their nickels and dimes helped bring the massive battleship 5,600 miles from Washington to Mobile Bay, where it squeezed through the Panama Canal with just inches to spare.

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park now stands as proof of what kids with pocket change can do when they put their minds to it.

A Breakfast News Story Changed Everything

Jimmie Morris sipped his morning coffee and read the Mobile Register on May 1, 1962. A small AP story caught his eye – the Navy planned to scrap several battleships, including the USS Alabama.

Morris almost spilled his coffee. As a Mobile Chamber of Commerce worker, he saw a chance to create a memorial for Alabama veterans.

The USS Alabama, a powerful warship from World War II, faced destruction unless someone acted fast. Morris put down his paper and made a call.

Three Local Men Jumped Into Action

Morris called Stephens Croom right away. As head of the Chamber’s Historic Landmarks Committee, Croom knew how important saving the ship was.

They brought in Henri Aldridge, a lawyer from International Paper Company, to help with legal matters. The three men quickly contacted Governor John Patterson about their plan.

They needed official support to have any chance. The Alabama Legislature backed them, passing a joint resolution while still in session.

Governor Wallace Rallied The Troops

George Wallace became Alabama’s governor in 1963 with personal interest in the battleship campaign. As a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, Wallace cared deeply about honoring those who served.

That summer, he called people from 22 Alabama counties to Montgomery. Standing before the group, Wallace gave a clear challenge: “Bring the ALABAMA home!

” The Navy showed real excitement about giving the ship to Alabama. With the governor leading the charge, support grew quickly across the state.

The Law Created A Commission But No Money

On September 12, 1963, Governor Wallace signed Senate Bill 152 into law.

The bill created the USS Alabama Battleship Commission as an official state agency to get, move, and maintain the massive warship. The problem?

The law gave zero dollars for the $1 million project. No state funds would pay for bringing the ship to Alabama.

The commission faced a huge fundraising challenge with time running out. Public support became their only hope for saving the historic vessel.

Insurance Agents Became Battleship Champions

Frank Samford from Liberty National Life Insurance Company stepped up to lead the statewide fundraising effort. His smart idea?

Use insurance agents who already visited homes monthly to collect policy payments. These agents started asking customers for donations during their regular stops.

Schools joined under the catchy slogan “Let’s Bring Our Ship Home!

” Students across Alabama began emptying their pockets, giving pennies, nickels, and dimes from their lunch money and allowances.

Small Town Kids Led The Way

Kids from Opp, Alabama, showed everyone how it was done. This small town became the first school system in the state to reach its fundraising goal.

Their success proved the campaign could work if everyone helped. Other school districts noticed and stepped up their efforts.

A friendly contest grew between communities, with each trying to raise more than others in supporting the cause. The children of Opp became local heroes, setting the bar for the entire state.

Lunch Money Added Up To A Fortune

More than one million Alabama students gave about $100,000 in small change. This happened when the minimum wage was just $1.

00 per hour and a new 1964 Cadillac cost around $3,000. Each student who donated got a free lifetime pass to visit the future memorial park.

The total campaign collected over $800,000 in just six months.

The children’s money made up nearly one-eighth of the entire amount needed to bring the battleship home.

The Navy Handed Over The Keys

The Navy officially gave the USS Alabama to the state on June 16, 1964, with one condition: they could take the ship back in case of national emergency. A formal handover happened in Seattle on July 7, 1964.

Workers got the massive battleship ready for a 5,600-mile journey from Bremerton, Washington, to Mobile, Alabama. They removed the ship’s propellers to prevent damage during the long tow.

The battleship that once fought in war zones would now travel behind tugboats.

Squeezing Through Panama With Inches To Spare

The three-month tow began with the battleship heading down the West Coast toward the Panama Canal. At 108 feet wide, the USS Alabama barely fit through the canal, with only 11 inches of space on each side.

The journey took a sad turn when the tugboat Sea Lion sank, killing two people. Despite this loss, the tow continued.

The operation still holds the record as the longest non-military ton/mile tow in history. The massive warship slowly moved toward its new home in Alabama.

Mobile Bay Welcomed Their Namesake Ship

USS Alabama arrived in Mobile Bay on September 14, 1964, after traveling 5,600 miles. Crowds gathered to welcome the battleship to her new permanent home.

Workers had dug a special channel to create a spot in the newly formed memorial park. Former World War II crew members came from across the country to join the homecoming events.

The ship that protected America during war would now serve as a permanent reminder of sacrifice and service.

Kids’ Free Passes Still Work Decades Later

The USS Alabama opened to the public on January 9, 1965, exactly 18 years after her decommissioning from active naval service. Governor Wallace accepted the ship on behalf of all Alabama citizens during the ceremony.

Over 2,000 people attended the opening, including many of the schoolchildren who had donated their lunch money. The park began receiving millions of visitors, becoming one of Alabama’s top attractions.

Remarkably, those student passes remained valid decades later, with over 50 still being redeemed annually by adults who had contributed as children.

Visiting USS Alabama (Battleship), Alabama

The USS Alabama at 2703 Battleship Parkway in Mobile costs $18 for adults, $6 for kids 6-11, and $15 for seniors, plus $5 parking.

You can explore three self-guided color-coded routes through the battleship that Alabama’s million schoolchildren saved with their lunch money in 1962.

The Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion has a flight simulator and A-12 Blackbird spy plane. Open daily 8am-5pm, tickets sold until 4pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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