This Day In American History: On March 5, 1961 President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps sends volunteers to developing countries to help with health care, education, housing, and other basic needs.
JFK’s Signature Achievement
The creation of the Peace Corps is considered one of the signature achievements of Kennedy’s presidency. It was a new agency and also considered a new opportunity for Americans to serve both their country and the world.
The Birth of the Peace Corps
While he was campaigning for the presidency, then Senator John F. Kennedy visited the University of Michigan on October 14, 1960. On the steps of the Michigan Union, he issued a challenge to the 10,000 students who came to listen to him speak: how many would be willing to serve their country and the cause of peace by living and working in the developing world?
60 Years Later…
Over 240,000 Americans have responded to Kennedy’s original challenge issued at the University of Michigan in 1960. Sixty years after Kennedy’s executive order, the Peace Corps is still proof the power of an idea can capture the mind of an entire country.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Info Source: PeaceCorps.Gov
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
