Namibia RPCV Fern Holland Remembered



Seen from what Brassfield called a "jaded perspective," it might seem that Holland's death and the deaths of the thousands of others in Iraq would be in vain if America pulled out and the country reverted to civil war or succumbed to another dictator.

Namibia RPCV Fern Holland Remembered

Bring them home? Stay to the finish?

Americans wrestle with war in Iraqas casualties climb
From staff reports
10/9/05

Two thousand Americans dead.

Nearly half as many as were killed during the eight years of the American Revolution. Twice as many as were killed in nearly a century of Indian wars.

As the price Americans pay in Iraq climbs - and it probably will top 2,000 either later this month or early the next - the questions become more haunting, more daunting: Do we remain? Should we pull out? What are the costs if we do? If we don't?

Nearly two-thirds of Americans, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted just over two weeks ago, want a full or partial withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

"Their position is wrong," President Bush told the pollsters. "Withdrawing our troops would make the world more dangerous."

What to do?

[Excerpt]

Remembering Fern

Years ago, Brent Brassfield was running a sporting goods store when he met a "bright" and "dedicated" young woman named Fern Holland who dated one of his co-workers.

By March 2004, Brassfield was mayor of Miami. Holland by then had gone on to become an attorney, a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa and a human-rights activist whose work took her all over the world. It took her to Iraq, too, where she was gunned down in an ambush on March 9, 2004, at the age of 33.

Seen from what Brassfield called a "jaded perspective," it might seem that Holland's death and the deaths of the thousands of others in Iraq would be in vain if America pulled out and the country reverted to civil war or succumbed to another dictator.

Brassfield doesn't see it that way. He said Holland died fighting for the rights of others, and that is how should she should be remembered. He proposed a memorial to her in Miami.

"Fern's humanistic endeavors were way beyond what she did in Iraq," he said. "She had a calling. It wasn't just an Iraqi experience for Fern. It would be most appropriate to do something in her honor. We just haven't finalized what we are going to do. We feel that whatever we do should do her justice."

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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