HI HR291

House of Representatives commends and congratulates the Peace Corps on its 50th anniversary, established by President John F. Kennedy through executive order on March 1, 1961.

Over 200,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in nearly 140 countries over five decades, addressing critical needs in education, health care, agriculture, environmental protection, and youth development.

Hawaii hosted one of the first Peace Corps training centers in Hilo starting in 1962, with training sites across multiple locations including Waipio Valley field station; over 7,000 volunteers were trained on the island of Hawaii between June 1962 and September 1971.

A plaque honoring President Kennedy was dedicated at the former Hilo Hospital on Christmas Day 1963 by Peace Corps trainees and staff.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hawaii are hosting commemorative events in November 2011, including a rededication of the Kennedy memorial plaque.