Embassy Press Release

Remarks by Ambassador Nicholas Taubman on the Occasion of the Swearing-in of Peace Corps Volunteers

May 5, 2008

Ambassador Taubman at the Peace Corps Volunteers Swearing-in Ceremony. Bucharest, May 5, 2008. [Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office]

- RELATED INFO -

Press Release: U.S. Peace Corps Swear in New Volunteers for Romania

Ken,
Peace Corps Romania staff,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here with you today on such an important occasion. Thank you for inviting me. It is a privilege to be among people who are such spontaneous and enthusiastic Volunteers. I am always pleased to have the opportunity to participate in Peace Corps activities. I would only remind you that it is going on to 15 years since President John Kennedy created the Peace Corps. Very very few Government programs in the Unites States ever survived that long. It has become an emblem and a grand task and mission of the U.S. to continue and to support the Peace Corps and what you all do.

I’d like to echo Ken’s comments and start by thanking the PC/Romania Training Staff, the city of Ploiesti and the gazdas who have hosted the trainees for the past 10 weeks. Without your efforts and hospitality we would not have the opportunity to celebrate this wonderful occasion.

For the past 18 years Peace Corps Volunteers have worked hand in hand with Romanian host agencies, communities and citizens to improve the quality of life in Romania, as well as to increase understanding of our two countries and cultures. Peace Corps is a unique form of foreign assistance, and a unique and valued part of the United States mission in Romania. I would remind everyone here, Romanian and American, that the Peace Corps represents one of the greatest qualities of the American society volunteerism. Americans learned a long time ago that not everything good gets done by the Government, in fact some of the best and most of the best things get done by people who are Volunteers just like all of you. Your willingness to step forward and serve your countries and other countries, signifies that you believe in a system which is that designed to help other people.

I would like to address my remarks today to the soon-to-be new Volunteers and the volunteerism you have accepted. I have tremendous admiration for the work that you all will be doing in the months and the years ahead and I want you to know how much I respect your commitment to service and your willingness to live and work for two years in another country, thousands of miles away from your family and friends.

Your efforts to meet the 1st goal of the agency, providing technical assistance to interested Romanian communities and organizations, represents some of the best of what the United States can and should offer in the world.

As compensation, you will complete the 3rd goal of the Peace Corps and learn about another culture in depth, something that Peace Corps can provide unlike any other experience. Learning about other countries and cultures is very important, because Americans, now more than ever, need to know more about the rest of the world. Romania is a wonderful country in which to serve in this regard. With such an incredible history and rich culture, you will have much to learn.

Peace Corps’ second goal is also vital. The need for the world to understand what America and Americans represent is important and as Peace Corps Volunteers, you have the ability to shape the view of our country and our culture more than just about anyone. Personally, I believe that the values and ideals of the Peace Corps represent the best that America has to offer and encourage you to challenge yourself to be great “unofficial Ambassadors” of the United States. Think not only of your formal interactions with your co-workers and colleagues, but also the informal and daily interactions you will have with your neighbors, people in the market or your seatmate on the train.

The United States of America actively supports volunteerism, as evidenced by President Bush’s requests for increased funding for the Peace Corps in each year of his presidency. At the Romanian level, both I and my colleagues at the United States Embassy in Bucharest are committed to supporting the efforts of the Peace Corps program and Volunteers so that the United States mission in Romania can contribute as much as possible to a bright future for this country.

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on successfully completing your pre-service training. You have worked hard over the past 10 weeks to prepare yourself for the challenges ahead and I know that you approach your assignments with a dedication to service and a clear understanding that you have a great deal to learn from the people you are here to serve.

I expect that I’ll have an opportunity to meet many of you in the months to come, and I certainly look forward to hearing about the contributions you will be making to Romania. Congratulations to all of you and please accept my best wishes for a wonderful two years.

Now, in a moment, I’ll ask all the Peace Corps Volunteers to stand and take the Peace Corps Volunteer’ oath and the last line of the words “so help me God,” at your option you may wish to delete that or include this in your oath of office.

Now, I’d like the new Volunteers to stand and raise their right hands and repeat after me:

I (your name), do solemnly swear that I will defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps (so help me God).

Congratulations to all of you.

At the American Cultural Center, Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman presents to the journalists, the official T-shirt of the U.S. - Romanian Ambassadorial Road Show to the United States. Bucharest, January 31, 2008.

back to top ^