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New fundraising campaign launched to repair USS The Sullivans

Posted at 12:24 PM, Mar 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-20 12:25:31-04

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park has launched a $2 million capital campaign to repair a piece of history along Buffalo's waterfront.

In 2018, 7 Eyewitness News reported that U.S.S. The Sullivans was sinking due to a crack in its hull, with a permanent fix nowhere in sight.

Now, the park is seeking help to pay to repair leaks to the ship, which has been at the naval park since 1977. And it's getting some help from someone who holds the ship near and dear.

Kelly Sullivan visited the naval park on Monday to launch the fundraising effort to preserve the ship named for her grandfather Albert and his brothers. They were all killed during World War II.

"She was not designed to last this long, and now she is showing her age," Sullivan said in a statement. "Unfortunately, time has not been kind to her, and her hull is in dire need of repair. We must fight for her, the way she fought for us."

If you would like to donate to the effort, you can do so here.

The effort comes as the naval park gets ready to celebrate 40 years of existence. The 2019 park opening is set for the end of March.