Jessica Federman
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 10:25 am

More than 60 years ago, an extraordinary thing happened: schoolchildren across North Carolina saved a battleship.

Armed with nothing but determination and their lunch money, students from every corner of the state launched a grassroots campaign that would make history. In 1961, these young North Carolinians collected nickels, dimes and spare change to "Save Our Ship" - raising more than $300,000 and rescuing the U.S.S. North Carolina from the scrap heap.

Their effort brought the ship home to Wilmington and transformed her into a living memorial to the 11,000 North Carolinians who gave their lives in World War II and to her 9,000 crew members who served aboard.

Today, those children are grandparents and great-grandparents scattered across North Carolina and throughout the country. Now, the Battleship North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, is searching for these original "North Carolina Navy" members - the kids, families and community leaders whose small donations made the impossible possible.

"Think about it: Children across North Carolina emptied their piggy banks and saved a battleship," said Dr. Jay Martin, executive director of the Battleship North Carolina. "These donors are now in their 70s and 80s, living all across our state and beyond. We want to find them, hear their stories, and ensure their extraordinary contributions are never forgotten."

The memories already shared tell a powerful story of determination and pride:

"There was very little extra money, but my parents managed to send many dimes with us to school to help save the USS North Carolina."

"All of my brothers and sister and I sold drink bottles, raked yards, knocked on doors -- most anything we could to raise money."

"It was exciting to know I had helped bring the Battleship home."

Whether you're a former student "crew member" who donated a dime, a teacher who organized your class, or a community leader who helped rally your town - no matter where you live now - the Battleship wants to hear your story. Anyone who contributed, or whose parents or grandparents did, can share written memories, photographs or videos at www.battleshipnc.com/dimes. Submissions will become part of a digital archive and may be featured in upcoming exhibits and educational programming celebrating the people who accomplished what seemed impossible: a generation of kids who saved a battleship.

About the Battleship North Carolina Memorial: The U.S.S. North Carolina (BB-55) is America's most decorated World War II battleship, now decommissioned and permanently moored among 55 acres of Eagles Island wildlands on the Cape Fear River at Wilmington. The Battleship North Carolina Memorial commemorates the heroism of North Carolinians who served their country during World War II and memorializes the roughly 11,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Battleship and adjacent park are a place for learning, reflection, and community engagement -connecting past events to current conversations about service, leadership, and citizenship through programs, exhibits, and events. For more information, visit www.battleshipnc.com.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources: The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the Department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. The Department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers Program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program.

For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.