(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - On the Fourth of July, the USS Iowa received a recognition befitting of its historic status.
The battleship was honored at a commissioning ceremony held on Wednesday in Los Angeles, CBS Los Angeles reported. It was docked at the Port of Los Angeles in June where it is now been transformed into a floating museum. The ship was towed from Northern California.
Among those in attendance at the rededication included Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. They were joined by hundreds of veterans and former USS Iowa crew members as well as a great-granddaughter of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Watch a "CBS This Morning" segment on the USS Iowa below:
One of the most powerful battleships of all time, the Iowa was built starting in 1940. After it was commissioned, the ship transported President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943. The ship also saw action in World War II and the Korean War.
Emotions run high as USS Iowa faces new mission
USS Iowa on way to new home in Southern Calif.
The Navy awarded the ship to a nonprofit group to display as an interactive naval museum that will highlight its place in American history.
In a bit of a scare, Gov. Branstad was briefly hospitalized after choking on food during the ceremony for the re-dedication, his spokesman said.
Branstad choked on a carrot during the event and vomited, spokesman Tim Albrecht said. He said the governor was taken to a nearby hospital "out of an overabundance of caution," went through a series of tests and was released after his health turned out to be fine.
The ship as a museum will be opened to the public this Saturday.
The battleship was honored at a commissioning ceremony held on Wednesday in Los Angeles, CBS Los Angeles reported. It was docked at the Port of Los Angeles in June where it is now been transformed into a floating museum. The ship was towed from Northern California.
Among those in attendance at the rededication included Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. They were joined by hundreds of veterans and former USS Iowa crew members as well as a great-granddaughter of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Watch a "CBS This Morning" segment on the USS Iowa below:
One of the most powerful battleships of all time, the Iowa was built starting in 1940. After it was commissioned, the ship transported President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943. The ship also saw action in World War II and the Korean War.
Emotions run high as USS Iowa faces new mission
USS Iowa on way to new home in Southern Calif.
The Navy awarded the ship to a nonprofit group to display as an interactive naval museum that will highlight its place in American history.
In a bit of a scare, Gov. Branstad was briefly hospitalized after choking on food during the ceremony for the re-dedication, his spokesman said.
Branstad choked on a carrot during the event and vomited, spokesman Tim Albrecht said. He said the governor was taken to a nearby hospital "out of an overabundance of caution," went through a series of tests and was released after his health turned out to be fine.
The ship as a museum will be opened to the public this Saturday.