[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 29 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING CONNECTICUT'S PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2013

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions of 
the 26 Peace Corps members from eastern Connecticut who are currently 
serving in the Peace Corps around the world. For five decades, the 
Peace Corps has supported international diplomacy through the promotion 
of peace, goodwill, and social and economic equality. I am proud that 
these young Connecticut residents have devoted part of their lives to 
help improve the lives of others.
  Among these eastern Connecticut volunteers is Keith Esposito, a 
resident of Gales Ferry and a Boston University graduate who is 
teaching English in Ukraine. Emily Howell Heller, a Niantic resident 
and Connecticut College graduate, is serving in Panama as an 
Environmental Education volunteer. Justin Lamountain, who is serving in 
the Philippines, is a forest and land management consultant as part of 
the Peace Corps Response program.
  Another volunteer, Chelsea Krieger, is serving as a HIV/AIDS 
technical health advisor in Malawi. Chelsea previously spent a year in 
Honduras through the Peace Corps; however, the Honduras program was 
suspended only a year into her service. Chelsea completed a Master's in 
Public Health and was motivated to apply for a Peace Corps response 
position to use her knowledge to assist those in need. Lantham Avery 
Jr. is currently serving in Kenya, a country currently experiencing 
unrest in the wake of the upcoming national elections. Additionally, 
one of my former interns, Gabrielle Tassone from Montville, is serving 
in Madagascar as an education volunteer. Other eastern Connecticut 
residents are serving in countries from Armenia to Tanzania to Gambia, 
and Kenya.
  As we recognize the 52nd Anniversary of the founding of the Peace 
Corps program, it is important to recognize the over 210,000 American 
volunteers that have participated in this important service program. 
Volunteers have shown the international community the American value of 
service in over 139 countries. This program provides the best and 
brightest of our young people the opportunity to represent their 
country abroad, by teaching English, by assisting with economic 
development programs, and by providing necessary support to small 
communities throughout the world. As we begin Peace Corps month, I am 
hopeful that we can all recognize all of these invaluable contributions 
to American values and global understanding.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring these 
distinguished volunteers from Connecticut and across the country, for 
their contributions to the developing world and for embodying the core 
value of service we all share.

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