Remarks by Ambassador Laura E. Kennedy at the Peace Corps Volunteers Swearing-In Ceremony
Remarks by Ambassador Laura E. Kennedy at the Peace Corps
Volunteers Swearing-In Ceremony
The U.S. Ambassador Laura E. Kennedy welcomed the new volunteers in her remarks at the swearing-in ceremony held on November 6, 2002 in Ashgabat. The following is the transcript of Ambassador Kennedy's speech:
Officials from the Turkmen Government, Peace Corps Director Sharon Sugarek, Peace Corps volunteers, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today's swearing in is a great occasion. I arrived here as Ambassador last year after September 11 when the Peace Corps volunteers were temporarily withdrawn. As I began to travel around the country, I was constantly asked "When will the volunteers return?" We remember today the pleasure we all felt last spring when we greeted the returning volunteers from the 9th group. We will soon be saying farewell to that great group although we are delighted that several of them will be staying on in Turkmenistan to continue their work here.
Next year we look forward to celebrating the first decade of the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan. This fall the Peace Corps celebrated the 42nd anniversary since President John Kennedy first proposed the idea for this magnificent endeavor. Speaking to a group of students at the University of Michigan, he challenged them to use their talents overseas. When he was inaugurated as President, he repeated this offer world-wide in a famous phrase: "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
Since then, more than 165,000 Americans in 135 countries have answered that bold and visionary challenge. More than 320 volunteers have served in Turkmenistan, in all five welayats.
As a woman, I am proud to note that currently 61 per cent of Peace Corps volunteers are women. As a fifty-one year old, I am also interested to note that 7 percent of Peace Corps volunteers are over age 50. Since the oldest volunteer is 82 years old, I am already thinking of my second career!
Peace Corps volunteers are working in the areas of teaching English and health education. I was delighted to attend the summer English camp that Daniel Stanley and Nate Truitt ran in Geoktepe last summer. I hope that you will invite me to your respective projects over the next year.
I know that all of you are dedicated to the mission of the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship through the three goals: 1) To help the people of interested countries in their training needs 2) To help promote a better understanding of America in the countries in which you serve and 3) To help promote a better understanding by Americans of those countries and their citizens.
We at the U.S. Embassy will be looking forward to following your activities in the months ahead. I am pleased to note that one of the newest members of the Embassy staff is a former Peace Corps volunteer - Shannon Runyon who served in Ukraine. Our U.S. Aid director, Brad Camp, was a volunteer in Turkmenabad. And, of course, Director Sugarek is a former Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana. They are but three of the distinguished alumni of the Peace Corps who include Senators, Governors and many diplomats. Speaking of the latter, I hope that you will consider joining the State Department in the years after you complete your assignment. Whatever your future lives may hold, I know that they will be forever enriched by your experiences here in Turkmenistan.
You have already begun to experience the warmth and hospitality of the citizens of Turkmenistan. You will have the opportunity to witness the challenges of forging a new nation and developing crucial community institutions, and to participate in educating new generations of Turkmenistan citizens. You can forever be proud of your record of service to your own country and to your friends in Turkmenistan. We envy you the uniqueness and opportunities your assignments will provide. You represent the finest in American traditions of volunteerism and public service and we thank you and salute you.
