Peace Corps Acting Director Gives An Update on Plans to Honor Ambassador
Ann Stevens was interviewed on CNN's "Out Front" last night. She said that the Peace Corps Community, Volunteers, staff and…
Dear Members of the Peace Corps family:
Given your continued outpouring of support and concern for honoring U.S. Ambassador and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) Chris Stevens, I would like to reiterate the essence of my earlier message to those who have written more recently and to update everyone on our plans for honoring and remembering Ambassador Stevens.
Through your support and concern for Ambassador Stevens, you have made evident that his tragic death was keenly felt within the 
Peace Corps community, and you have reminded me of how close a family we are at the Peace Corps. You have also heartened the Stevens family by your outpouring of support.
As I mentioned in my earlier email message to you, the Peace Corps has been in touch with the Stevens family since just after Ambassador Stevens’ tragic death. With them, we have begun a conversation on the most appropriate manner to honor the life and memory of Ambassador Stevens. We want to be sure that everything the Peace Corps does is supportive of and consistent with the desires of the family and the family’s own Chris Stevens Foundation.
Anne Stevens, the ambassador’s sister, has graciously accepted our invitation to visit Peace Corps headquarters on Thursday, November 8. During her visit, we will share with Ms. Stevens our plan to honor Ambassador Stevens in History Hall, located in the lobby of Peace Corps headquarters — and other options as well. The History Hall dedication ceremony will be open to the Peace Corps family, and a date for the ceremony and any other activities will be determined in concert with the Stevens family. I would like to mention that Peace Corps/Morocco memorialized Ambassador Stevens with a tree-planting ceremony on the grounds of the Peace Corps office in Rabat on October 16.
We appreciate so much your continued support and encouragement for a fitting way to honor Ambassador Stevens.
With deep sadness, let me also inform you that the Peace Corps family lost another dear friend last week when former Peace Corps Director Jack Hood Vaughn passed away at the age of 92. Jack was a beloved and well-respected member of the Peace Corps community. His leadership of the agency following the departure of Sargent Shriver was instrumental to the continued success of the Peace Corps in the 1960s.
I was honored to spend time with Jack during the celebration of Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary last year. Decades after serving as our Director, he was still a passionate voice for peace and eloquent about Peace Corps’ ability to build bridges to other nations through service. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
I thank you all for your continued commitment to the Peace Corps and for your desire to honor the giants among us.
Warm regards,
Carrie
Carrie Hessler-Radelet
Acting Director
Peace Corps
RPCV Western Samoa 1981-83
Well done, Carrie!
Hopefully the result will be a ‘permanent’ place at Peace Corps dedicated to RPCV Ambassador Stevens.
Carrie…you said what all of have felt, we want to join hands as we remember a member of the Peace Corps family…thanks for being so sensitive. Jack and Chris would be proud of you!
Bob
Ann Stevens was interviewed on CNN’s “Out Front” last night.
She said that the Peace Corps Community, Volunteers, staff and RPCVs are looking for the best way to honor her brother by increasing cross-cultural awareness and appreciation. That is not a direct quote; but the efforts of the Peace Corps Community were acknowledged by her. I think that she said this in the context of a conversation she had with a high ranking official in the State Department.