Petition to DOD!

Office of the Secretary of the Defense

1400 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-1400

 Dear U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta:

As you know, in the early morning hours of July 3, a fishing boat capsized and sank 80-100 miles south of San Felipe, off Mexico's Baja Coast. A grassroots effort by friends and family of the seven missing men has garnered media attention and volunteers, but we need you to take immediate action.

I am making a personal plea for you to use your influence to:

(1) Get the dive approved to investigate the wreckage. I learned today that the dive was not approved by the Department of Defense. The families of the seven missing men need closure. Searching the wreckage would either give them that, or let them know that they can still hope their family members are out there, in the water or on land. Please approve a dive to search the "Erik."

(2) Continue the search efforts. I also learned today that the Mexican Navy has called off their search and rescue. These men could be on land, too weak or far from civilization to contact anyone.

Regardless of the reality of these men's survival, don't the friends and families deserve to find the remains of their loved ones...for closure, to ensure their loved ones are given a proper burial, etc.  Please do not let these opportunities pass by. Please do not condemn the friends and families of these men to a cruel and desperate limbo. Please do not condemn these men to be lost to their loved ones forever.

You hold 7 families' hopes in your hand and when you count the number of individuals per family along with their friends, neighbors, colleagues, and business partners, you are now looking at hundreds of people impacted by this tragedy.  Please help bring their loved ones home.

Sincerely,

Address

City

Cc:

President Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20500