2011.03.07: March 7, 2011: In 1961 Colombia native Martin Acevedo, who had become a U.S. citizen while in the army, returned to Colombia in the first wave of Peace Corps volunteers to serve overseas
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2011.03.07: March 7, 2011: In 1961 Colombia native Martin Acevedo, who had become a U.S. citizen while in the army, returned to Colombia in the first wave of Peace Corps volunteers to serve overseas
In 1961 Colombia native Martin Acevedo, who had become a U.S. citizen while in the army, returned to Colombia in the first wave of Peace Corps volunteers to serve overseas
Born in Medellin, Colombia, Acevedo came to New York as a teenager with his brother, learned telecommunications in the army and studied science in college. He joined the Peace Corps the year President John Kennedy founded it after hearing his inaugural challenge: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." "I joined from idealism. It might be difficult to understand today, but I wanted to give something back to my adopted country," said the 77-year-old retired engineer from Ashland. For two years Acevedo lived austerely in rural Ebejico, Colombia, earning $75 a month. When he left in 1963, the year Kennedy was assassinated, he had completed a 2 1/2-mile aqueduct that carried clean water to Ebejico. "Having lived in other countries, I wanted a people-to-people connection that showed them a face of the United States other that its military, politics and commerce," he said.
In 1961 Colombia native Martin Acevedo, who had become a U.S. citizen while in the army, returned to Colombia in the first wave of Peace Corps volunteers to serve overseas
Volunteers say Peace Corps changed them while improving America's reputation
Caption: Martin Acevedo, 77, of Ashland, served in the Peace Corps in his native Columbia from 1961-1963. Photo: Ken McGagh/for Daily News and Wicked Local
By Chris Bergeron/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Mar 07, 2011 @ 02:51 AM
[Excerpt]
In 1961 Colombia native Martin Acevedo, who had become a U.S. citizen while in the army, returned to South America in the first wave of Peace Corps volunteers to serve overseas.
In 2008 Alicia Charleston said goodbye to her parents in Hopkinton and flew to Benin in West Africa to serve in a Peace Corps program helping locals start small businesses.
Looking back at Peace Corps service 47 years apart, Acevedo and Charleston recall joining for different reasons. Yet both treasured abiding friendships with people they helped and feelings of accomplishment.
Born in Medellin, Colombia, Acevedo came to New York as a teenager with his brother, learned telecommunications in the army and studied science in college. He joined the Peace Corps the year President John Kennedy founded it after hearing his inaugural challenge: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
"I joined from idealism. It might be difficult to understand today, but I wanted to give something back to my adopted country," said the 77-year-old retired engineer from Ashland.
Since 1961 more than 200,000 Americans have answered Kennedy's call to serve abroad. While volunteers have served in 139 countries over the years, there are today 8,650 Peace Corps volunteers working in 77 countries.
For two years Acevedo lived austerely in rural Ebejico, Colombia, earning $75 a month. When he left in 1963, the year Kennedy was assassinated, he had completed a 2 1/2-mile aqueduct that carried clean water to Ebejico.
"Having lived in other countries, I wanted a people-to-people connection that showed them a face of the United States other that its military, politics and commerce," he said.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: March, 2011; Peace Corps Colombia; Directory of Colombia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Colombia RPCVs; Immigration; Massachusetts
When this story was posted in September 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| DC you in September Come to Washington DC to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps from September 21 to 25. There will be an open house at Peace Corps Headquarters, advocacy training, a service day, a staff reunion that all living directors will attend, Peace Corps Night with the Washington Nationals, the Peace Corps Gala, Third Goal Bash, a memorial to fallen Peace Corps Volunteers at Arlington Cemetery, the 50th Anniversary Walk of Flags and the NPCA's Peace Festival. Here's the schedule of events. |
| Peace Corps Featured at Smithsonian Take a look at our photo essay of Peace Corps' featured program at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC to see how the festival showcased the work of Peace Corps volunteers in economic development and income generation; ways volunteers have helped support local groups to help educate communities; and food and cooking traditions that have played a role in the Peace Corps experience. New: Enjoy photos from the second week of the exposition. |
| Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years As we move into the Peace Corps' second fifty years, what single improvement would most benefit the mission of the Peace Corps? Read our op-ed about the creation of a private charitable non-profit corporation, independent of the US government, whose focus would be to provide support and funding for third goal activities. Returned Volunteers need President Obama to support the enabling legislation, already written and vetted, to create the Peace Corps Foundation. RPCVs will do the rest. |
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
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Story Source: Mitford Press
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Colombia; Immigration
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