U.S. Embassy News Release
August 6, 2007

U.S. Peace Corps Receives Congressional Medal;
Honor Conferred by Speaker de Venecia in August 3 Ceremony

The U.S. Peace Corps proudly accepted a Congressional Medal of Achievement from Speaker of the House of Representatives Jose de Venecia in a ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy on August 3.

Speaker de Venecia and nine Congressmen attended the ceremony to bestow the honor on the U.S. Peace Corps organization for its contributions to development in the Philippines, as well as to the continued friendship between the peoples of our two nations.

U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney and U.S. Peace Corps Country Director Karl Beck accepted the medal and gave brief remarks. Pictured above are the Ambassador, Director Beck (2nd from right), Speaker de Venecia (4th from right), and the congressional delegation holding the medal.

The citation for the Congressional Medal of Achievement reads, in part, that it is being given “In recognition of the U.S. Peace Corps’ achievements in its mission of promoting world peace through good works; and in memory of its martyred Volunteer, Julia Campbell – who, out of her empathy and compassion, touched thousands of Filipino lives during her posting in Luzon, as a high-school teacher of English and western literature … In appreciation of the Peace Corps mission in the Philippines, and of the devotion of Volunteers like Julia Campbell.”

The newest group of volunteers to serve in the Philippines was officially sworn into service on August 3 during a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy. This new batch boasts 57 U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers who will proudly join the 8,169 volunteers who have served in the Philippines since the program’s inception in 1961.

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