US Senate honors RPCV Fern Holland



US Senate honors RPCV Fern Holland

Honoring the life of Fern Holland and expressing the deepest condolences of the Senate to her family on their loss. (Agreed to by Senate)

SRES 80 ATS

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 80

Honoring the life of Fern Holland and expressing the deepest condolences of the Senate to her family on their loss.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 10, 2005

Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. SARBANES, and Mrs. CLINTON) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Honoring the life of Fern Holland and expressing the deepest condolences of the Senate to her family on their loss.

Whereas the Senate remembers with great sadness the murder of Fern Holland near the Iraqi city of Karbala at the age of 33 on March 9, 2004;

Whereas Fern Holland, born in Bluejacket, Oklahoma, on August 5, 1970, lived her life committed to creating the most equal and just global society possible;

Whereas Fern Holland graduated with honors in psychology at Oklahoma University and actively sought to help the world through caring for children dying of nuclear-related diseases in Russia and teaching kids in a squatter camp in South Africa;

Whereas in the spring of 2000, Fern Holland worked for the Peace Corps as a human rights legal advisor in West Africa;

Whereas in 2003, Fern Holland went to investigate alleged human rights violations for the American Refugee Committee at a refugee camp in Guinea where she established a legal clinic to seek justice for victims of human rights violations, and which, at the time of her death in 2004, had handled 118 cases on behalf of victims of human rights violations;

Whereas in May 2003, Fern Holland went to Iraq as a United States Agency for International Development employee to work for women's rights;

Whereas in Iraq, Fern Holland organized human rights groups, opened 6 women's centers in south Baghdad, and acted as a strong advocate for Iraqi women's rights;

Whereas after Fern Holland's death, leading feminists issued statements praising her work;

Whereas residents of the refugee camp in Guinea renamed the legal clinic Fern Holland established the `Fern Holland Legal Aid Clinic of Nzerekore';

Whereas the high school Fern Holland attended in Miami, Florida observed a moment of silence and then discussed a memorial to honor her;

Whereas the Cherokee Nation honored Fern Holland by passing a resolution saying she `died as a warrior';

Whereas Fern Holland was posthumously named a Heroic Oklahoman on April 7, 2004, by Governor Brad Henry; and

Whereas Fern Holland devoted her brief life to promoting her belief in basic human rights and the rule of law: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) recognizes that, in Fern Holland, the World has lost one of its most devoted and hard working human rights activists;

(2) honors Fern Holland in her extreme dedication to making the world a better place; and

(3) expresses its deep and heartfelt condolences to the family of Fern Holland on their loss.

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

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 over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 12, 2005: This Week's Top Stories The Coyne Column: Read Winning Essay by PCV 12 Mar Laura Germino helps Migrant Workers Advocacy Group 12 Mar Sam Farr impresses medical-pot advocacy group 11 Mar Fred O'Regan writes Op-Ed on Canada seal hunt 11 Mar Fern Holland remembered In Oklahoma 10 Mar Mountaineer Charles Houston receives honorary degree 10 Mar Elaine Chao led delegation for President's inauguration 10 Mar Chris Dodd wins Hispanic Capital Award 9 Mar Pat Waak is new Colorado Democratic Party Chair 9 Mar Chris Matthews withdraws from Florida Event 9 Mar Timothy J. O'Brien returns to Korea 8 Mar Tomas Belsky's paintings inspired by service in Brazil 7 Mar Christopher Hill to be Assistant Secretary of State 7 Mar Allen Moore is Sen Frist's Deputy Chief of Staff 7 Mar Jim Doyle heads trade delegation to Mexico 5 Mar Al Kamen says Narcissus Is Now Greek AND Roman 4 Mar Diana Gomez says to do something about Peace 4 Mar

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March 12, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar Alaska RPCVs speak for dividend 4 Mar Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar Maryland RPCVs lobby their Senators for Peace Corps 3 Mar Connecticut RPCVs hold fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar Charles Baquet speaks at Louisiana PC Breakfast on March 4 28 Feb RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

Peace Corps Calendar: Tempest in a Teapot? Bulgarian writer Ognyan Georgiev has written a story which has made the front page of the newspaper "Telegraf" criticizing the photo selection for his country in the 2005 "Peace Corps Calendar" published by RPCVs of Madison, Wisconsin. RPCV Betsy Sergeant Snow, who submitted the photograph for the calendar, has published her reply. Read the stories and leave your comments.

WWII participants became RPCVs Read about two RPCVs who participated in World War II in very different ways long before there was a Peace Corps. Retired Rear Adm. Francis J. Thomas (RPCV Fiji), a decorated hero of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 at 100. Mary Smeltzer (RPCV Botswana), 89, followed her Japanese students into WWII internment camps. We honor both RPCVs for their service.

Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps The White House is proposing $345 Million for the Peace Corps for FY06 - a $27.7 Million (8.7%) increase that would allow at least two new posts and maintain the existing number of volunteers at approximately 7,700. Bush's 2002 proposal to double the Peace Corps to 14,000 volunteers appears to have been forgotten. The proposed budget still needs to be approved by Congress.

Read the stories and leave your comments.