VERO BEACH — Sailors in hot spots around the world, especially in and around the Persian Gulf, have more than bad guys to worry about.
These days they are also battling scorching heat, upwards of 128 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit by some accounts, on flight decks of aircraft carriers such as the U.S.S. Eisenhower.
“There are young kids out there on the flight deck who are getting dehydrated working 12 hours a day sweeping, cleaning, and preparing planes for takeoff and landing,” says Military Moms Prayer Group Member Peggy Pitta, whose son, a Navy pilot aboard the Eisenhower, alerted her to the problem.
To help these young sailors stave off deydration, Pitta and other members of the Military Moms Prayer Group are calling on members of the Indian River County community to donate packets of powdered Gatorade that the group can send to the Eisenhower.
“As a mom, I’m concerned about our sons and daughters in these extreme circumstances,” says Pitta, who says the intense heat is expected to continue for the next couple of months.
“The Eisenhower has a crew of about 6,000, and the ship is as long as the Empire State Building is high,” Pitta adds. “These sailors are out there giving their all, day in and day out, and all they ask from us is Gatorade.”
To make a donation, drop off packs of powdered Gatorade at Dr. Joyce Desrosiers’ Eye Clinic of Vero, 632 21st St. in Vero Beach in Miracle Mile (next to Zeran Jewelers).
The Military Moms will ship the Gatorade to the chaplains aboard the Eisenhower for distribution to the sailors.
If you wish to send some on your own, the Military Moms can provide you with the address. Please call Petty Pitta at (772) 794-1373, or e-mail her at PeggyPitta@hotmail.com.
The current drive for the sailors is part of the ongoing outreach to the troops sponsored by the Military Moms Prayer Group, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization registered as a charity in the State of Florida.
The interdenominational group meets for prayer from 5 to 6 p.m. every Thursday at Christ Church Vero Beach (behind Outback and next to Vero Bowl). New members are always welcome.
For information, please go to our website at www.MilitaryMomsPrayerGroup.com or call (772) 231-2221.
