[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the efforts of our nation's Peace Corps volunteers in honor of National 
Peace Corps Week. Since the establishment of the Peace Corps by 
President John F. Kennedy in 1961, more than 195,000 U.S. Citizens have 
served their country in the cause of peace by living and working in 139 
countries throughout the world. Each Volunteer sent out into the field 
represents another opportunity to dispel myths about the United States, 
to help people of interested countries meet their need for trained men 
and women, and to create lasting bonds of friendship with host country 
citizens. Volunteers are currently providing expertise and development 
assistance to 76 countries and are working to find common ways to 
address global challenges. These Volunteers share their time and talent 
serving as teachers, business advisors, information technology 
consultants, agriculture and environmental specialists, and health and 
HIV/AIDS educators. The Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of 
our nation's commitment to encourage progress, create opportunity, and 
expand development at the grass-roots level in the developing world.
  I would like to commend our proud nation's Peace Corps volunteers for 
their service, particularly those 58 men and women of the Eleventh 
Congressional District of Virginia who are currently serving as 
volunteers: Lauryn Alleva, Alfred Baldwin, Anne Berwick, Albert Bond, 
Erica Brouillette, Casey Burke, Daniel Cassiday, Alexander Chidakel, 
Kelly Connors, Rhiannon Cooper, David Coscia, Eric Crowder, Kevin 
Dansereau, Ryan Dickriede, David Doane, Scott Estep, Brian Fries, Evan 
Gay, Jeffrey Gilleo, Nathan Graham, Nathan Hernandez, Michaela Hoffman, 
Thomas Holian, Rachel Kavanagh, Matthew Keenan, Dianne Kim, Shinhee 
Kim, Melissa Ko, Rachel Kramer, Phuong-Thuy Le, Hye Lee, Laara Manier, 
Katherine Mariska, Paul Mastin, Alona Mays, Kelly McCormack, Russell 
McDaniel, John McGrath, Jonathan Mellor, Theresa Milstein, Matthew 
Mozingo, Karine Nankam, Trevor Perrier, Jessica Pic, Jennifer Polasek, 
Mathis Pollock, Jonathan Seiden, Hanna Simering, Jonathan Styron, Mary 
Thur, Rachel Vanderburg, Amy Vaughters, Christine Wahle, Joshua 
Wayland, Jessica West, Clemens Weygandt, Courtney Wong, and Dale 
Yurovich. I consider it a great honor to represent these noble men and 
women, who travel great distances and make great sacrifices to help 
reaffirm our country's commitment to helping people help themselves 
throughout the world.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today to 
acknowledge the thousands of Americans who serve and have served as 
Peace Corps Volunteers. They are a great credit to our country, and we 
should applaud them.

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