ESSEXVILLE, Mich. (AP) -
The work is just beginning for the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship museum, where the USS Edson Navy destroyer recently arrived.
The vessel was delivered to Wirt Stone Dock in Essexville, 15 years after efforts to bring a floating museum to Bay County began. It was welcomed by hundreds of spectators along the shore and a flotilla of small boats that motored alongside it.
John DeWyse, a member of the museum's Board of Directors, tells MLive.com (http://bit.ly/OlklwU) there's a "bunch of painting and cleaning up to do" and welded hatches need to be opened. But, he says, it's in decent shape.
The destroyer eventually will be towed to its permanent location near the Independence Park Boat Launch in Bangor Township.
Tours will be offered pending Environmental Protection Agency approval.
Check out TV5's slideshow at the top of this story for photos of the ship.
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