State of Vermont
House of Representatives
Montpelier, Vermont
Concurrent House Resolution
H.C.R. 254
House concurrent resolution congratulating the Peace Corps on its 45th anniversary
Offered by: Representatives Orr of Charlotte, Green of Berlin and Howrigan of Fairfield
Whereas, in 1960, Senator John Kennedy addressed an audience of University of Michigan students,
challenging them to “serve their country in the cause of peace,” and on March 1, 1961, the recently inaugurated
President John Kennedy established a new organization called the Peace Corps, and
Whereas, the Peace Corps’ mission of world peace and friendship is delineated in three goals of helping:
(1) people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women,
(2) promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served, and
(3) promote a better understanding of other people on the part of all Americans, and
Whereas, since the Peace Corps’ creation 45 years ago, 182,000 Americans of all backgrounds have
volunteered in 138 different nations around the globe, including postings in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Eastern
and Central Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Pacific, and
Whereas, Peace Corps volunteers are engaged in projects as diverse as combating HIV/AIDS, assisting in the
development of new businesses, implementing information technology systems, and working on environmental
preservation projects, and
Whereas, a highlight of the 45th anniversary celebrations will be the presentation of the first John F.
Kennedy Service Awards at a commemorative event scheduled during Peace Corps Week on March 4 at the
Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, and
Whereas, Vermonters have volunteered for Peace Corps postings enthusiastically and in impressive numbers,
as their percentage of participation rose 33 percent during 2005, and Vermont has the highest per capita
participation of any state, and
Whereas, recruiting for future Peace Corps Volunteers occurs at many Vermont-based events and at local
colleges, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly congratulates the Peace Corps on its 45th anniversary, and be it further
Resolved: That the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Peace Corps Director
Gaddi H. Vasquez in Washington, D.C., the University of Vermont Peace Corps Office in Burlington, and the
Middlebury College Career Services Office.
www.leg.state.vt.us