The favorite port

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 The favorite port for visits by the US Coast Guard and Military is Puerto Vallarta and for good reason. This boast is is attributable to the local Navy League chapter made up of almost 100 members of all nationalities and background, not necessarily ex-Navy or ex-Coast Guard. All are enthusiastic to make our defenders of the high seas welcome. We greet the ships upon their arrival and deliver a list of establishments not limited to just restaurants who offer discounts to our Navy and Coast Guard personnel. We offer advice on how best to phone home and local activities of interest including where to shop and how to change money.
Many sailors are interested in absorbing some of the local colour and this is best achieved by participating in COMREL's (Comunnity related projects) which we the Navy League organize. These usually involve painting of buildings for needy facilities. Orphanages, shelters for old people, or abused women, children that are outside of the Government DIF programs and depend on donations to survive. This scenario makes painting appear well down on the list of priorities and thats where the volunteers along with the NAVY LEAGUE step in. After the work the NAVY LEAGUE hosts the workers to a seafood delight replete with cervezas and tequila at La NORIA restaurant who help out by giving us a deal on the meal.
A very needy and essential organization embracing handicap children called Pasitos de Luz had recently annexed an adjacent property and after changing the Tacoria into two playrooms they were in need of paint and some simple electrical wiring. ASPEN crew to the rescue (the coast guard motto is only a little distorted here) as out of 46 members of the crew seven volunteered to participate. Remember any ship has to have members stand watch even in port. Their stay was shortened by the fact that their alongside berth was to be occupied by a cruise ship in the early AM of their second day and consequently their leave was shortened to only two nights instead of the usual three.
Pasitos de LUZ provides without any formal funding a facility to daycare about 25 to 30 at times severely handicapped children. They are located at Exiquio Corona 545 Col. Bobadilla . Puerto Vallarta, Jal. México C.P. 48295 Tel/ fax: (322) 299 3605 . This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and its run by a young couple named Ceasar and Yolanda who have demostrated a compassion for these heart wrenching children whose parents need to work and of course these children need round the clock care so enter Cesar and Yolanda and Pasitos de LUZ.
They are a charitable organization from Puerto Vallarta, which was started up by a group of mothers of children with various disabilities such as:

* Cerebral palsy
* Down’s syndrome
* Consequences of Meningitis
* Microcephaly
* Muscular Dystrophy
* Cry du chat
* Hydrocephaly
* Other conditions

Their main objectives are:

* To provide a full crèche facility where parents can leave their children and are then able to go about their daily activities, and continue working. * To provide these children with a home away from home.
* To offer rehabilitation services, speech therapy and physiotherapy. * Basic education.
* To support parents, provide emotional support, and become a source of faith to them that their children can indeed be rehabilitated...

Check out their website at http://www.pasitosdeluz.org/ and have your cheque book handy as there is a great need here.
Ironically the same day we painted their facility they were one of the three charities benefiting from the proceeds of the OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE who found a novel way of celebrating their fifth anniversry here in Puerto Vallarta. All of the proceeds from the $300. pesos entry fee and also the drink revenue was distributed to PASITOS de LUZ, CASA HOGAR (a local orphanage) and MAKE A WISH Foundation.
Their share of the $315.+ thousand peso will go a long way to help them finish off their facility and we; (the Navy League) will find a way to get your new rooms wired.
Thanks once again to LTJG Allison Zumwalt, Ens Josh Zike CWO4 Gary Ewing, BMC Kim Gray, EMC Pete Clark, FNDavid Bass, FA Devon Hubbard of the ASPEN crew and especially two of the above that in addition to giving their time working, bought tickets to the OUTBACK benefit. Well done Coast GUARD Cutter ASPEN, OUTBACK and Puerto Vallarta NAVY LEAGUE.

Bill SEMEYN,
V/P Operations
Puerto Vallarta Navy League