We celebrate the anniversary of the USS Turner Joy, which was launched on May 5, 1958, participated extensively in the Vietnam War, and fired the final round of naval gunfire of the war on Jan. 28, 1973, just seconds before the ceasefire went into effect. It was decommissioned in 1982. (See our story in Kitsap Weekly.)

Peace often comes with a price, and thousands of visitors a year tour USS Turner Joy and learn about the sacrifices our military personnel and families make to help achieve and maintain peace, and protect our interests at home and abroad.

The ship provides an accessibility to the Navy mission and history that the general public can’t get elsewhere: A two-person stateroom aboard the ship is a Vietnam War exhibit, a replica of a windowless cell at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” with the names of all of the armed services personnel released in 1973 as part of the Paris peace negotiations. Aboard the ship, there is a plaque with the names of the sailors killed in a shipboard explosion in 1965.

But the USS Turner Joy needs — and deserves — our help.

Cmdr. Jack James, a retired Navy SEAL and director of the USS Turner Joy Museum, is trying to raise $1.25 million to take the ship to dry dock for needed maintenance. He’s raised roughly half of the money — $250,000 through fundraising and $300,000 from an allocation by the state Legislature.

Currently, the Turner Joy’s main sources of funding are the Historic Navy Ships Association and the Tin Can Sailors Association. Other help could be readily available.

The Turner Joy is inspected by Navy Sea Systems Command, but because the ship is decommissioned it cannot use a Navy dry dock. The ship should not have to go to a private dry dock.

The Navy uses the Turner Joy for free for the Chief Selects Legacy Academy. The academy entails living aboard the destroyer while participating in community relations projects, ship preservation, and leadership training, and concludes with a ceremony on the pier in front of the ship. The Navy should contribute funding to at least cover its costs.

The public can help keep the Turner Joy shipshape. To make a tax-deductible contribution, go to www.USSTurnerJoy.org.