Peace Corps Remembers 9/11



Peace Corps Remembers 9/11

Peace Corps Remembers 9/11

Agency, Regional Offices Host Ceremony to Honor Patriots' Day

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 10, 2004 – Three years ago, the Peace Corps lost its New York regional office when the World Trade Center Towers were attacked and destroyed. Although many of the Peace Corps personnel who worked there were not in the office that day, the few who were, escaped unharmed, but not untouched. Nevertheless, the entire Peace Corps family will never forget 9/11 or those who lost their lives.

In an effort to honor the friends, family, Americans and other citizens of the world who perished in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania on 9/11, hundreds of returned Peace Corps volunteers, staff and guests joined together at a remembrance ceremony Friday. The ceremony was held at the Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters building in Washington, D.C., and via videoconferencing technology, linked with staff in the 11 Peace Corps regional recruiting offices in New York, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Rosslyn, Va., San Francisco, and Seattle.



"While we mourn the deaths of all the innocent victims of 9/11, we must remember that perhaps the most fitting and enduring tribute that we could offer their families would be to help create a safer, friendlier, and more peaceful world," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. "In the spirit of working toward this goal, today, let us rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps to advance peace and friendship throughout our communities, throughout our nation, and throughout our world."

Director Vasquez led the event and read portions of messages from around the world sent to the Peace Corps after 9/11, expressing sorrow and condolences for America, but most of all sharing hope. A moment of silence was also observed and a video montage played to honor all those who lost their lives that day.

When this story was posted in September 2004, here was the front page of PCOL Magazine:

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview This month we sat down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Then read the questions and answers one by one and leave your comments on the issues raised during the interview including Infrastructure Upgrades and the new Situation Room at Headquarters, Is there a Budget Crunch this year at Peace Corps, Peace Corps' Long Term Expansion, the Changes to the Five-Year Rule made last year, Safety and Security Issues, the Cooperative Agreement with NPCA, RPCVs in Policy Making Positions at Peace Corps Headquarters, Peace Corps' Departure from Russia in 2002, Director Vasquez's Accomplishments as Director, the Peace Corps Safety and Security Bill before Congress, Continuity at the Agency during Changes in Administration, the Community College Program, and the Director's Message to the Returned Volunteer Community.

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