The USS Lexington painted one of its fighter planes bright pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The paint was mixed with detergent to make it easy to remove next Month. Courtesy Photo
An F9F-8 Cougar fighter plane all decked out in pink primped on the deck of the USS Lexington on Saturday, Oct. 15, as a symbol of the fight against breast cancer. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October each year, the color pink is used to raise awareness of the number of lives lost to the deadly disease and the continued efforts to find a cure.
The national month is used to promote early detection through monthly self-exams and annual mammograms. Events are held nationally by a multitude of organizations, the main one being the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
According to figures from another prominent cancer-fighting organization, the American Cancer Society, more than 72,000 Texans lost their lives to the disease from 2006-2010. About 232,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed among U.S. women last year alone.
The F9F-8 on the USS Lexington joined the battle as the first fighter plane that has been painted pink for the cause, said Charles “Rusty” Reustle, director of operations and exhibits on the Lexington. As the man behind the pink, Reustle said he got the idea from the filming of the movie “Pearl Harbor.” Scenes from the movie were filmed aboard the aircraft carrier-turned-museum docked on North Beach in Corpus Christi.
Aircraft used in the movie were painted to look new or different, using paint mixed with detergent, so it could be removed later. The latex pink paint known as “Hiliconia” is expected to wash off when October ends.
