Dear Supporters,

I grew up listening to my father and grandparents talk about their life on a Quaker mission in Kenya in the early and mid 1900’s. It sounded magical to me as a kid.  Skip forward to spring of 1962 in my senior year in college, when I heard rumblings about something called the Peace Corps (or as our students called it, “Peace Corpse”). 

I was on a path to teach English in a high school in California with my major in English Literature and minor in Education and a background of volunteerism throughout high school.  By the time graduation rolled around I was all signed up to be the first alum  from Colorado College to join the Peace Corps. 

My assignment in Africa was teaching English in Ethiopia.  First volunteers to answer the call of Hailie Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, who wanted secondary teachers to fill the gap of too few teachers in their growing population of students seeking an education. We trained in Georgetown and were invited to the Rose Garden by President John F. Kennedy who thanked us and bid us farewell.  And so our prop plane landed in Addis Ababa September, 1962, loaded with over 200 volunteers dedicated to fulfilling the request from the Emperor.  Later he welcomed us at his palace.   

What a whirl wind and over the top few weeks! And then the real work began. 

Why does this story matter? Why does a Park honoring the founding of the Peace Corps and dedicated to American ideals matter? It matters  to so many RPCVs who have served not just the U.S. but, more importantly, have served the world and then returned to continue their life of service.

It matters that we were and are invited to a country and for a specific reason.  It matters because America matters all across the world. It matters because it is an organization dedicated to peace, being invited into a country, to live among the people, to learn its ways and its language, to create personal relationships based on friendship and service, not money and power.

The Peace Corps helped each and every one of us and now it is our turn, the volunteers. 

We  who served in whatever capacity, to increase our chances of being effective, contributing individuals making a difference in lives we touched. We must do whatever it takes to close the gap that will allow the Park to continue on to completion. I am 85 now and I want to go to the dedication! I want my children and grandchildren to come with me. I want the Park to make a difference in people’s lives with its open hand design. 

I want it to be part of my legacy. What about you?

Open your hand in commitment and heart felt generosity  to make  it possible for the completion of a symbol of the spirit of America like Peace Corps Park.  The spirit that changed your world, your life and that of thousands of people we touched across the world and here at home. What  could be more urgent at this point of time in history? Please donate whatever you are able knowing we were and are a part of the best of America, and will continue to be, for as long as the world needs helping hands. It’s our legacy!

Respectfully,

Sue Hoyt Aiken

RPCV Ethiopia 1962 - 1964