Posted on 01/14/2002 7:50:26 PM PST by testforecho
Coast Guard Helps Boy With Wish
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - An 8-year-old boy had a single wish for the set of toy boats he built to carry a message for the victims of Sept. 11 - he wanted them to sail out to sea as far as possible.
The Coast Guard decided to help Justin Clark complete his project, carrying his 16 boats into the Gulf of Mexico on a routine two- to five-day patrol mission Monday.
"We'd be going out anyway, so we might as well help Justin out," said Petty Officer Robert Suddarth in St. Petersburg. "It doesn't hurt us to do it. It's a very positive thing to do."
The crew plans to release a few boats at a time during the mission, Suddarth said. Some were released Monday afternoon.
The locations where the numbered boats are dropped into the water will be recorded and given to Justin to help him track their progress.
Justin built the 8-inch-long boats out of pine with his grandfather's help.
Each boat carries a note asking that anyone who finds it throw the vessel back in the water, and adds: "I would really appreciate it if you would say a little prayer, in your own way, for the families of the September 11 tragedy or our people overseas who are protecting our freedom."
"I hope they get somewhere far away," Justin said. "The only place I don't want them to land is Afghanistan."
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aaaawwwww..... Afghanistan is landlocked... he shouldn't worry.
aaaawwwww..... Afghanistan is landlocked... he shouldn't worry.
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