I write this post, not only as a tribute to Sarge Shriver, but also to my godfather, Edgar May, who was a dear friend of of his.
My godfather has an amazing story, one where, as a young child, he was able to leave Switzerland, with his mother and sister, all carrying “golden” visas to the United States.
Why were those “golden” visas? Because they were Jews escaping Nazi Europe, most Jews were not so lucky to obtain those Visas.
He spent his entire life in public service, as veteran of the Korean War, a journalist exposing welfare recipient abuse (he earned a pulitzer prize),as head of the OEO, and finally as a Vermont Senator.
Edgar met Sargent Shriver while working on the anti poverty campaign. He always admired his spirit and dedication to hard work. As my godfather is a true humanitarian, so was Sarge Shriver.
Here is the article in the Washington Post:
It took only a walk with Sargent Shriver to learn how deeply loved and loving he was. Former Peace Corps volunteers, from the early days of the program that he began in 1961, or ones just back from stints in Third World outposts, would stop Sarge to thank him, embrace him and tell him stories about their life-changing service.
Countless others approached him on airport concourses, city sidewalks and elsewhere: people whose lives were changed because of the anti-poverty programs that Shriver started in the Johnson administration – Legal Services, Head Start, Job Corps, Community Action,VISTA, Upward Bound. Or the parents of children in Special Olympics, the program began by Shriver and his wife, Eunice, that revolutionized the way we treat those with mental disabilities.
What incredible people with incredible stories, Elena! Thank you for sharing.
Do you know how one qualified to get a “golden visa”? Was it luck of the draw?
“The only genuine elite is the elite of those men and women who give
their lives to justice an charity.”
Sargent Shriver
Brings back a lot of memories. Shriver’s name was on the telegram telling me I had been selected for the Peace Corps. Among the first to volunteer in fact. Many people thought I was making a mistake — volunteering to go to Africa where poverty was almost universal and my expected living conditions exceptionally difficult, delaying my personal career — all for virtually no pay. Balderdash. It was a baptism of fire in the real world and an experience one will never forget. To this day I can remember almost every moment of that “adventure” and see the faces and hear the voices of the African friends I made so long ago. I can still hear the nocturnal beating of the tribal drums, see the heat of the sun pouring down upon the grasslands of the Sahel, feel the sand of the Sahara dunes tugging at my boots, and smell the sweat of the horse beneath my saddle. Those experiences made me stronger for all that was to follow in my life. That is my tribute to Sergent Shriver…and to JFK, who made it so.
That should be “Sargent Shriver.” Always did get that mixed up…. sargent, sergeant, sargent, sergeant….
thank you Wolverine for your amazing real life experience, thank you for your tribute.
Say what you want about the Kennedy’s and half-Kennedys (that’s what Daddy Kennedy called Shriver, it’s been said), they really stirred the young people.
Shriver’s Peace Corps was a fantastic success, and it’s rather amazing that it’s still in existence. My son-in-law went into it right out of college and, like Wolf, went to Africa. His stint with the Corps led him to a life-long carreer in the State Dept’s AID. He and a group of his former PCorps members still get together annually. – My son’s classmate went to Togo in 1984. A neighbor’s daughter spent two years in Khyrgistan recently, teaching English.
I believe that many good people came out of the Peace Corps and have done a lot of good
in the world.
Sargent and Eunice Shriver were doers. They could have lived a life of leisure but chose to work to improve the lives of those less fortunate.
@Wolverine
Wolverine, your life stories just blow me away. I’m such a bumpkin compared to you!
Wolverine, I don’t know why but I never knew you were in the peace corp. I am curious. Didn’t the Peace Corp count as military service or did I dream that up?
I don’t know who this person was (I’m sorry they died) but I’ll do my research to find out what kind of person they were. I hope he RIP and I feel for his family.
Edgar’s grandfather was a Texan I believe, I will have to ask him though for sure. I am pretty sure that was the way they obtained their visas.
Oh, and to all my well wishers, thank you! So far the antiviral is fighting off whatever virus I have, it may not be chicken pox as I thought, it may be shingles, or it may be some other yucky virus…….only time will tell.
@Moon-howler
I’m pretty sure that being in the Peace Corps never counted as military service. As far as I know, the military had nothing to with the Corps, and those who served were never in any way connected with anything military.
Punchak is absolutely right. Peace Corps service only put you out of the military draft for the time you were serving. When my PC service came to an end, LBJ and Sargent Shriver sent me a nice signed certificate of thanks all done up in fancy writing and official seals, congratulating me on the fine service I had rendered to my country. That was followed almost immediately by a letter advising me I was now 1-A for the military draft. I went into the PC in a time of peace when JFK was in charge and came out in a time of war when LBJ had taken over. I got to taste the work of peace in Africa and the work of war in Vietnam within a six-year span. Talk about putting your personal career plans on hold!!!
And, Pinko, I cannot write poetry worth a crap. It always comes out sounding like one of those limericks!!
Ah ha! Now I know what I was thinking. I have a couple friends who went in to the peace corp to avoid the draft. You can’t be drafted if you are in the Peace Corp but they can be waiting for you at the airport with the ‘invitation.’ Got it.
The person I am thinking of immediately went in to the seminary.
Seminary was better than Canada!
Wolverine
Your timing wasn’t very good, it seems 🙂
I guess it is all a draw. He met Mrs. W on that trip to Vietnam.
Destiny is a funny thing sometimes MH. Our worst times can bring us to our best times.
Seminary…funny. My brother LEFT the Jesuit Seminary, joined the Marines, and went to Vietnam……
My mother always said that it wasn’t much of a change between the Jesuits and the Marines…..
Cargo,
The person I know left the peace corp and went to Episcopalian Seminary. Little different from the Jesuits. Remember, Episopalians are JV Catholics. 🙂