[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS AND 11TH DISTRICT 
                               VOLUNTEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 6, 2012

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise 
today and recognize the Peace Corps on the 51st Anniversary of its 
inception. Since President John F. Kennedy's inspirational call to 
service in the 1960s, the Peace Corps has played an integral role in 
the journey toward world peace and understanding.
   The Peace Corps is vital to our strategies for diplomacy and 
development assistance. This year alone, approximately 9,000 Peace 
Corps Volunteers have made significant contributions in more than 75 
countries. Volunteers learn more than 175 languages and dialects with 
placements in Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and South America, the 
Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
   The effects of service ripple across a wide variety of communities. 
The Peace Corps not only provides invaluable assistance to the 
developing world, but also returns effective cross-cultural leaders to 
the American workforce. Through their service, volunteers develop 
steadfast creativity and determination that permeates through 
everything they do.
   It is with great pleasure that I recognize the 28 residents of the 
11th District of Virginia who have met this extraordinary call to 
service: Daniel Beale, Michael Burke, Megan Bush, Michelle Carr, 
Jennifer Cook, Kevin Dansereau, Emily Forsyth Queen, Carolyn Glidden, 
Kendall Gordon, Salwan Hager, Molly Jacobson, Brittany Kennell, 
Shantonu Kundu, Catherine Leitch, Laura Lloyd-Braff, Douglas Mann, 
Patricia Marks, Ryan Mcgibony, Laura Olsen, Kristin Powers, Eric 
Reeder, Kristopher Reinertson, Ashley Studholme, Anh-Minh Tran, 
Anastasia Tucker, Emily Vallowe, Peter Weems, and Priscilla Yu.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
Peace Corps for 51 years of invaluable service to our Nation and our 
world. Through its diplomatic and development service, the Peace Corps 
has established valuable cross-cultural understanding. Virginia's 11th 
District is especially proud to recognize the service of our 28 
residents abroad.

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