Tamar Schiffman Lechter, the President of the RPCV/Washington, D.C. group, sent an email around at the end of 2010 asking for funding to help pay for a memorial service for fallen PCVs at the Arlington Cemetery Amphitheater. Included in this service is a ’silent vigil’ to JFK’s grave site, and a march back across Memorial Bridge to the Mall. All of this is to take place on Sunday morning, September 25, 2011.
Such a memorial service has been done before when RPCVs gathered in D.C., going back to 1965 and the first ‘reunion’ of Peace Corps Volunteers. It is a wonderful gesture and something we all fully support.
The Washington, D.C. RPCVs have been ‘tasked’ with organizing this ceremony by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) as the NPCA doesn’t have the manpower or money to plan or pay for it. The Peace Corps agency is not helping out, as far as I have been told. So, Tamar Schiffman Lechter is e-mailing and asking for $$$. God love her! Thank you, Tamar, and thanks to the RPCVs in D.C. for doing all this work.
There is only one problem that might–in my opinion–turn the memorial ceremony into a massive pile up on the bridge to Washington. Here’s what I mean.
Tamar wrote in her December 2010Â email:
On September 25, 2011, RPCV/W will host a 90 minute program at Memorial Amphitheater followed by a silent procession to Kennedy’s grave, paying tribute to his vision. We will then march together in a parade of flags, across the Arlington Memorial Bridge. (back into D.C.)
Having attended these ’services’ at Arlington going back to 1965 I am firmly convinced the DC group is doing this ‘march thing’ assbackwards. Â
At the giant 25th Reunion about six thousand RPCVs gathered on the Mall. They carried flags and walked over Memorial Bridge, from the Mall to Arlington Cemetery, following Shriver, Ruppe and dozens of others dignitaries. They marchers stopped briefly at Kennedy’s grave site and laid a wreath, and then when onto the Amphitheater for the service that Bill Moyers directed. It was a warm September morning, as I recall, and the service lasted over an hour, with all of us sitting out in the sun. Then everyone headed back to the Mall on foot, by subway, and in cars. Everyone wanted to get out of the early heat of Washington, D.C.
I’m told by several of the people directly involved in the planning for 2011 that while they have asked President Obama to appear they think (rightly) he will send someone to speak for him at Arlington. The planners have sketched out a general program (nothing too exciting, I might add, at the 25th). The planners were very clear that after this 90-minutes program, they will organize the RPCVs in a silent procession to Kennedy’s grave.
Hello?
Have they no experience with RPCVs? After 90-minutes of sitting in the sun, a crowd of say 10,000 RPCVs, plus family, plus kids! none of them are going silently into the good day! Also, they won’t be easily organized around host country flags in an area the size of the Peace Corps building?
If I were them, I’d re-think this arrangement.
These Organizers from what I know have never been to previous events it appears. They are also using as their ‘touchstone’ the last two reunions, where the march went backwards toward the Mall, and where there was a smaller gathering. Fair enough. They are not, as far as I can see, considering the large number of RPCVs planning to come to the 50th Anniversary in September.Â
I might be way wrong on this one, but all of us old farts remember what it was like that Sunday morning twenty-five years ago. After sitting out for 90-minutres, very few RPCVs will be in the mood to be ‘organized’ or to ‘march.’
I would suggest that Tamar Schiffman Lechter and her march planners speak with Roger Landrum and the other RPCVs from D.C. who ran that reunion on the Mall under the big tent twenty-five years ago. It won’t hurt to hear what they think.
I do want to  compliment these new, young RPCVs for stepping up and taking on this important ceremony of remembering the PCVs who died overseas in service to the Peace Corps. Thank you.
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Coming off the 50th celebrations for Colombia I at Rutgers University ( site of the first Peace Corps training program) , the 50th preparations can be considered a work in progress, thanks to the leadership of RPCV/W. Congrats to the group they picked up the “task” that the Peace Corps administration just doesn’t want to handle.RCPV/W has a commitee that meets the first Saturday of the month in the Atrium of the National Portrait Gallery at 11:30 a.m. to plan the events. Join Us, if you are in the area! (BTW, the Portrait Gallery is a space that could accomodate a few thousand Volunteers on September 26., and who picked this date ?. It’s after school and universities start the Fall session,( thereby cutting down on family attendance) etc.etc..and bearing no relation to a PC historical event?
The committee plans to hold a monthly country event leading up to the 50th. To date, they have honored Ghana, Chile, and Pakistan and intend to honor the other original 13 countries, one a month ,through September 2011. Colombia will have an event end of June ( June 30-July 4, 2011) corresponding to the Smithsonian Folk Festival which honors both the Peace Corps and Colombia this year. BTW, the Smithosonian contact is James Deutsch at deutschj@si.edu and my recent conversation with him indicates he will need some help, again as the PC administration is less than forthcomming.
As to fundraising, why not try the Obama technique.My mailbox is filled weekly asking for a contribution to support “this and that”, even Joe Biden and Michelle are sending thank you notes (if you send in a contribution.)As the Presidental appeals have no shame nor should the RPCV efforts to raise the money for our own celebration.
Hard to believe it’s a half century since those days. I’d like to be part of that reunion.
I have been to three of these events and I loved them all…2002 was a year late because of 9/11, but just as much fun! And the Colombia One group was the best and plan this year´s to be better, right Henry Jibaja? I will send my donation, great thought and should never be forgotten…staff that died overseas too! Looking forward to seeing you. Anyone know who many former Director´s will be there? Sarge and Jack for sure I hope…see you! Bob
Bob Arias
Peace Corps Response Volunteer/Paraguay 2010-2011
Peace Corps Response Volunteer/Panama 2009-2010
RPCV Colombia 1964-1966
Thanks, John, for bringing this up. I too have been curious as to why the march would go in the opposite direction than it has in all previous marches. it will be near impossible to organize the attendees by countries near the Kennedy gravesite. Also, I hope the organizers are thinking about the number of “senior” RPCVs who will likely attend. I know of many with various hip, knee, etc. problems. I was hoping there would be some shuittles arranged to be sure that those who served in the early days are not cut out of the Cemetery event becasue of an inability to walk the ditances involved.
As i recall it was Mike Wolfson from one of the early groups who always organized the march…is he involved this time? He would know the best way to do it.
John,
Thanks for acknowledging the hard work of RPCV/W! Indeed our members are volunteering whatever extra time they have to ensure that this event is a success. As you can imagine, we are getting a lot of feedback and advice from all over about how to best structure the event and are trying to bring in as many voices and ideas as we can. (Including Mike W, who has been very helpful in thinking through the parade)
As Dennis mentioned, our committee meetings are open to the public and we encourage people to come and join in the planning. While we won’t be able to please everyone, we hope the events will be as inclusive as possible and worthy of the great occasion.
For more information about getting involved, joining RPCV/W, or supporting our 50th efforts, I encourage people to visit our website http://www.rpcvw.org.
Best wishes,
Tamar Schiffman Lechter
Yes, thank you, John. I agree with your point about the march being backwards. It seemed to run smoothly at the 25th, walking together out to the cemetery and then moseying back to wherever after the ceremony; but I don’t know what the current complications and considerations are.
In any case, I do have to wonder where the administration’s head is at, if it can’t come up with the interest or the scratch to support any of this. I would think that the people who died while working in the Peace Corps - staff and volunteers - deserve some notice from the government. But then, what better notice could one get than recognition by one’s peers?
I also agree with the point about the march being backwards. For the 25th, my recollection is that State didn’t even have a Somali flag and we used one brought by a Somali RPCV, tied to a spear no less. Unfortunately, since 9/11, the Park Service has some fairly strict rules on to marchers can attach banners, signs and flags.
In light of Sarge’s death, we might want to visit his gravesite (he was a WWII vet and may be buried in Arlington Cemetery) as part of the event.
I agree that the march should follow the planning for the 25th anniversary. That was magnificent! The planning was impeccable. The current organizers should certainly discuss plans with those who managed the 25th anniversary. It was memorable.