• September 29, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Colombia: Journalism: Fund Raising: PCOL Exclusive: Maureen Orth's Remarks at the Peace Corps Fund  Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:20 pm [1]

• September 29, 2005: Headlines: COS - Ethiopia: Fund Raising: PCOL Exclusive: John Coyne's Remarks at the Peace Corps Fund  Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:18 pm [1]

• September 29, 2005: Headlines: COS - Morocco: Fund Raising: PCOL Exclusive: Barbara Anne Ferris's Remarks at the Peace Corps Fund  Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:16 pm [1]

Caroline Kennedy's Remarks at Peace Corps Fund Event



"My father founded the Peace Corps over four decades ago to encourage Americans to be citizens of the world - to accept someone else's challenge as their own and to commit their lives to public service."

Caroline Kennedy's Remarks at Peace Corps Fund Event

Good Evening.

I am thrilled to be here tonight to celebrate the two groups of people I admire most--Peace Corps volunteers and teachers! Of all of the memorials to President Kennedy, the Peace Corps is the one that would be closest to his heart and all of you carry forward and sustain his vision for America.

Through your actions and your teachings, you demonstrate the importance of service to one's country and to each other. Each day as the world becomes more interconnected, this idea is more important than ever, and we are grateful for your leadership, example, and service.

My father founded the Peace Corps over four decades ago to encourage Americans to be citizens of the world - to accept someone else's challenge as their own and to commit their lives to public service.

I am so pleased to see so many people here tonight who have answered his call to serve in countries around the world through the Peace Corps.

And here at home, over the past few years as the Vice Chair of the Fund for Public Schools, I have met outstanding teachers and volunteers in New York City public schools who have given tirelessly of themselves to serve the children of our City. These educators, like you, are an inspiration to the world around them.

This evening celebrates that inspiration. For the students in your schools today, you represent everything they could hope to be. You are living examples that they too can live their dreams, accomplish great things, and work in service to others. For those who arrive in this city every day from all over the world, you understand where they came from, you speak their languages and you represent the very best that is already here.

Thank you for keeping President Kennedy's legacy alive for new generations and for all you do for our children.

When this story was posted in October 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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'Celebration of Service' a major success The Peace Corps Fund's 'Celebration of Service' on September 29 in New York City was a major success raising approximately $100,000 for third goal activities. In the photo are Maureen Orth (Colombia); John Coyne (Ethiopia) Co-founder of the Peace Corps Fund; Caroline Kennedy; Barbara Anne Ferris (Morocco) Co-founder; Former Senator Harris Wofford, member of the Advisory Board. Read the story here.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read the results of our poll among RPCVs. Latest: Congressman John Kline introduces legislation to alter the program to remove the Peace Corps as an option for completing an individual’s military enlistment requirement.

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger.

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Top Stories: October 10, 2005 Carl Pope says the looting of America has only begun 2 Oct Report of PCV Misconduct in Zambia 7 Oct Chic Dambach speaks in Oklahoma 6 Oct Murphy to give papers to Heinz museum 6 Oct Mike Honda speaks out on Katrina 5 Oct Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas 5 Oct Peter McPherson urges new nuclear weapon designs 5 Oct Doyle and Green in dead heat for Wisconsin Governor 5 Oct NPCA Membership Directory ready in late November 5 Oct GOP hopefuls avoiding Taft 4 Oct Ask not 4 Oct Russell Carollo wins journalism prize for "The Toll of War" 4 Oct Mark Gearan says provision was a mistake 4 Oct Mike Tidwell says Bayou has been sinking for years 3 Oct Carl Pope writes: Preparing for Global Warming 3 Oct Director Vasquez Meets with Volunteers in Gulf Coast 3 Oct John McCain's call to service 3 Oct Joshua Berman wins Lowell Thomas Travel Writing Award 2 Oct Operation Offset proposes freeze in Peace Corps Funding 1 Oct

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Returned Volunteers respond to Hurricane Katrina First and foremost, Give. Then volunteer with the Crisis Corps. Carol Bellamy says "In situations such as this one, money is needed the most" and added that Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans is comparable to last year's tsunami. Thailand RPCV Thomas Tighe's Direct Relief International has committed an initial $250,000 in cash to assist hurricane victims. Mayor Tom Murphy (RPCV Paraguay) says Pittsburgh is ready to embrace refugees from devastated areas. Brazil RPCV Robert Backus is among the first Vermont doctors to volunteer to travel to Louisiana to treat victims. Latest: FEMA requests RPCVs to assist in recovery efforts through the Crisis Corps and the Peace Corps hopes to send 400 RPCVs to the Gulf Coast for short term assignments to assist victims with their applications for federal aid.

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The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

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Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

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