NJN PUBLIC TELEVISION & RADIO, P.O. BOX 777, TRENTON, NJ 08625-0777

TRENTON-- NJN Public Television salutes the return of the USS New Jersey to New Jersey waters with a one-hour documentary, 20^TH Century Warrior: The Return of the USS New Jersey, that pays tribute to the Iowa-class battleship and the veterans whom she carried into battle. The NJN News documentary takes viewers on the memorable journey of the great ship, as it departs from its former berth in Washington’s Puget Sound, navigates a tight trip through the Panama Canal and arrives home in New Jersey waters. 20^TH Century Warrior: The Return of the USS New Jersey will air on NJN on Sunday, January 16 at 9:00 p.m. with a special rebroadcast on Friday, January 21 at 10:00 p.m.

"The moving conversations that our news team had with New Jersey’s veterans as they reminisced about their days of service to our country laid the groundwork for this special documentary," said Elizabeth Christopherson, NJN Executive Director. "NJN Public Television is pleased to share these stories with our viewers, so that they might learn about the great ship’s glorious history through the eyes of the servicemen who were there."

20^TH Century Warrior: The Return of the USS New Jersey also provides highlights of the 6,000 mile, seafaring voyage of the 58,000-ton ship from the Pacific Ocean to its original home base, the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where the great ship was built almost 60 years ago.

Veterans from New Jersey, who also served on the USS New Jersey, help to carry the storyline along with their colorful tales that remind viewers about the wars and conflicts that could be seen from the ship’s deck. Their memories bring 20^TH Century Warrior: The Return of the USS New Jersey to life, with their tales that recall not only long hours and hard work, but also a strong sense of patriotism that comes from fighting for our nation’s freedom.

One of four of its kind in the world, the USS New Jersey is the most decorated battleship in naval history with 16 battle stars and is one of the six largest battleships ever built in the world. She was commissioned in the 1940s.

20^TH Century Warrior: The Return of the USS New Jersey touches on the battleship’s future. Now decommissioned, she will serve as a New Jersey waterfront, educational museum that will provide children with a better understanding of the importance of democracy and patriotism, and the battles that have been fought in the name of both.

The one-hour documentary is being produced by NJN News reporters Ed Rodgers and Rich Young. 20^TH Century Warrior: The Return of the USS New Jersey will be available for purchase. For more information, contact NJN Video Services at 609-777-5093. Funding for 20^TH Century Warrior: The Return of the USS New Jersey is provided by the Charles Edison Fund.

NJN Public Television and Radio is New Jersey’s public telecommunications network. NJN Public Television, a PBS member, is broadcast over Channels 23 (Camden), 50 (Montclair), 52 (Trenton), 58 (New Brunswick) and all New Jersey cable systems. NJN Public Television is also broadcast in parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Connecticut. NJN Public Radio, a NPR member station and PRI affiliate, is broadcast on 89.7 FM/Atlantic City; 88.1 FM/Berlin; 89.3 FM/Bridgeton; 90.3 FM/Cape May Court House; 89.9 FM/Manahawkin; 88.5 FM/Sussex; and 88.1 FM/Trenton. All NJN-produced series are aired on NJN Public Radio and webcast on NJN’s Website at www.njn.net.