[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 34 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK AND THE 48TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                            THE PEACE CORPS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2009

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Peace 
Corps Week (February 23-March 2) and recognize the 48 years of 
commitment to peace made by our nation's Peace Corps volunteers.
  Following a call to service by President John F. Kennedy, more than 
195,000 Americans have served our country in the cause of peace by 
living and working in 139 developing nations.
  Currently, 7,876 Peace Corp volunteers are making significant and 
lasting contributions to improve the lives of individuals and 
communities in 76 countries. This selfless group includes the following 
volunteers from Hawaii: Claire Albrecht in Zambia; Kristel Balbarino 
and Holly Horcajo in Nicaragua; Jack Chow and Noa Thomas in Vanuatu, 
Theresa Duddy in Madagascar; Rachel Grossman in Ukraine; Ashley Jones 
in Micronesia; Kevin Kalhoefer in Cambodia; Serette Kaminski in Niger; 
Nicole Nakama in Botswana; Kevin Schmitz in Dominican Republic; Mai 
Shintani in Gambia; and Theodore Varns in Guatemala.
  I also want to recognize and thank the many Peace Corps alumni who 
reside in Hawaii. I have many friends who are former Peace Corps 
members. To a person, each has told me that their time of service had a 
major impact on their lives.
  Aloha and mahalo to all Peace Crops volunteers past and present for 
your work in strengthening the ties of friendship and understanding 
between the people of the United States and others around the world.

                          ____________________