Excerpt from PC Director

TO: Peace Corps Global
FROM: Ron Tschetter, Director
SUBJECT: Patriot Day 2008

In the days and months following September 11, 2001, the hands of friendship extended from citizens around the globe, and the generosity of the American people continued to shine with the increase we saw in Peace Corps applications. Last year, our applications were up over 26 percent from 2001.

As we all know, the Peace Corps displays the very best America has to offer, and our mission to promote world peace and friendship has never been more important. Every day there is a Volunteer who provides someone in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and South America with a friendly smile and a helping hand. Showing more than his or her own face, that Volunteer is showing the compassionate face of America to someone from another culture.

I have met with many Volunteers who have told me the attacks seven years ago inspired them to fill out that Peace Corps application and join the growing ranks of dedicated Volunteers attempting to make a difference. And I have met with many staff members who have become Peace Corps employees for the very same reason.

As we remember those who gave their lives in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., in observance of Patriot Day, let us also pause to remember the 264 Americans who have given their lives during their service as Peace Corps Volunteers, especially as today we are mourning the loss of Bertie Murphy in Belize. As you walk in the front doors of Peace Corps headquarters, a memory board honoring these dedicated public servants can be seen to the right. I encourage those of you who work in Washington to take a look at the names on the plaque and reflect upon the service they provided for their country. For those of you in our regional recruitment offices and our posts around the world, I encourage you to join us in honoring them.

Both the individuals who lost their lives seven years ago and the Peace Corps Volunteers who gave their lives to their country are patriots in every sense of the word.