On June 1, 2010, the Arizona Memorial Museum Association made its own history when it officially changed its name to Pacific Historic Parks to better reflect its expanded support of four National Parks throughout the Pacific: World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor, Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokai, American Memorial Park in Saipan and War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam.

The nonprofit organization was formed in 1979 in association with the National Park Service to support and fund educational programs, museum exhibits and interpretive programs for the USS Arizona Memorial, which is part of the recently dedicated WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The monument also includes sites on Ford Island: the USS Oklahoma Memorial, USS Utah Memorial, and several historic Battleship Row mooring quays and CPO bungalows.

Over the last 31 years, the organization’s role has grown to include support of the three additional historic landmarks. Information about all four parks is available at PHP’s new website.

Just after 11 a.m. Hawaii time on June 4, Rachel Chmiel of Atlanta, Georgia, was welcomed as the 4 millionth visitor aboard the USS Missouri.

Michael Carr, president and chief operating officer of the Battleship Missouri Memorial, showered gifts upon the milestone visitor, including a U.S. flag that Chmiel and her children helped raise over the “Mighty Mo”. Other Oahu attractions and companies joined the Missouri in congratulating the visitor with gifts.

Visiting Hawaii with her husband, Tim Saviello, and their two children, Chmiel and her family have several ties to Hawaii and the military. Chmiel’s father served in the U.S. Navy; Tim Saviello was born on Oahu at Tripler Army Medical Center, where his father worked as a doctor; and his sister-in-law, Erin Saviello, is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force.