VERO BEACH — The Military Moms Prayer Group meets from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursdays at the Women’s Refuge, 1850 Lemon Avenue, Vero Beach. The interdemonational group, founded by Vero Beach resident Pam Proctor, prays for the troops weekly and sponsors holiday gift drives for those deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Proctor gathered a group of five military moms together in August 2006 when her son, U.S. Marine Capt. Michael Proctor, 29, was preparing to deploy for his first tour of duty overseas. The C-130 pilot was one of five St. Edward’s Upper School Class of 1998 graduates in active military service at the time. Since then, the group has grown to more than 40 members, about 10 to 20 of whom attend meetings on a weekly basis. The others stay in touch via email. Not all the members are moms — aunts, grandmothers, sisters and women the group calls “cheerleaders” (those who do not have a son or relative in the military) are welcome to join.Information: Call Pam Proctor at (772) 231-2221 or visit
