The first step taken in 1960 was to establish the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission whose early charter was to determine the location of the berth for the ship, prepare the site for the ship, and move the ship from her current berth with the Navy's Reserve Fleet in Bayonne, New Jersey. Most significantly, the Commission's charter also included the responsibility to raise the funds to accomplish the other tasks. The Save Our Ship campaign was born.

Save Our Ship, SOS, was a fundraising campaign with the goal to raise $275,000 all of which was to come from private sources. Morton's ingenuity created a unique grassroots campaign that spanned the State of North Carolina. First, he named captains for each of the state's 100 counties to lead the fundraising efforts and enlisted a select group of famous North Carolinians to provide the statewide message of the need to Save Our Ship, including commentator David Brinkley and actor Andy Griffith. Interestingly, too, Hugh Morton's drive to control the administrative costs of undertaking such a large campaign led to savings such as using his young son on campaign posters rather than paying for a model. Two other elements of the campaign were even more critical.

First, was the Admiral in the North Carolina Navy program, a special initiative for those who personally contributed $100 or raised $500. Contributors at that level received a certificate granting an honorary commission as an Admiral in the North Carolina Navy, permanent recognition onboard the ship, and a lifetime pass to tour the Battleship. Even more astutely, with Governor Hodges now in the Kennedy Administration in Washington, Morton and Governor Terry Sanford joined Hodges in Washington to present the number one Admiral in the North Carolina Navy commission to President John F. Kennedy. Over 2,000 North Carolinians joined the President in receiving their commissions in 1961. A link to the list, which is sorted by county, is available elsewhere on this page.

Second, was the North Carolina schools initiative. Through the support of Governor Sanford, all North Carolina grade, middle and high schools participated. Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade in 1961 had the opportunity to contribute and over 700,000 of them gave nickels and dimes of their lunch money. For their contributions they received a pass for admission to tour the ship and if their school had 100% participation, the school received permanent recognition onboard the ship. As with the Admiral in the North Carolina Navy initiative, the recognition was by county, and a link to that list is also available elsewhere on this page. But what is the most marvelous aspect of the heartfelt contributions of the school children in 1961 is that, to a person, their contribution established a perceived "ownership" of the Battleship. No matter that the donation was but a nickel or a dime, those youngsters in 1961 who are adults today, still proclaim that "ownership".

The Save Our Ship campaign was an overwhelming success, exceeding the goal with $330,000 raised.

The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA was transferred to the State of North Carolina in ceremonies at Bayonne, New Jersey. In late September she was towed from New Jersey, and on 2 October the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA was moored in her present berth across the river from downtown Wilmington. On 29 April 1962 she was dedicated as a memorial to all the North Carolinians who served in World War II, and in particular, to the more than 10,000 from all branches of the armed forces who gave their lives in the service of their country and state.