November 11, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friends of the Cruiser Olympia Move Forward on Ownership Request

Philadelphia, PA. — Executive Director Bruce Harris of the tax exempt, non profit organization known as the Friends of the Cruiser Olympia, dedicated to restoring and preserving the Cruiser Olympia, announced that the group was selected by the Olympia Transfer Review Panel to, “…move forward to a Phase II process” designed to award ownership of the Cruiser. The Panel is comprised of museum and historic preservation professions from the Council of American Maritime Museums, PA Historical Museum Commission, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Independence Seaport Museum with advisory input from Naval Sea Systems Command Inactive Ships Program.

“We are honored to have been selected to be considered for securing ownership of the Cruiser Olympia by this process,” said Jay Richman, President of the Friends of the Cruiser Olympia, ” and we intend to complete the various requirements so as to move forward to restore and preserve this historic treasurer and national landmark as soon as possible.” The Executive Director of the Cruiser Olympia, Bruce Harris, added that “we have every intention of raising significant funding from our Capital Campaign designed to secure over $22M, to obtain ownership of the Cruiser and to enter what we call, Phase 1-Drydock restoration in order to prevent it from sinking due to leaks in the hull.”

The primary goal of the Friends of the Cruiser Olympia is to restore and preserve its heritage for present and future generations and to enhance its major impact on American history and the pride of the US Navy.

For further Information:
Bruce R. Harris
Executive Director
Friends of the Cruiser Olympia
The Keepers of Our Naval Heritage
Two Penn Center Plaza, Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19102
W (215) 854-6309
Fax (215) 569-0216
bruceharris@cruiserolympia.org

# # #