The Peace Corps is a  volunteer agency run by the U.S. Government. The mission of 
the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand U.S. culture, and Americans to understand
the cultures of other countries. Generally, the work is related to social and economic development. On March 1, 1961,President John F. Kennedy (on the right above)
signed the Executive Order that officially started the Peace Corps. Kennedy then 
appointed his brother-in-law Sargent Shriver (above left) to be the program’s first 
director.

President Kennedy greets the first Peace Corps volunteers in August,1962.

John F. Kennedy was the first U.S. President to have his Inauguration
telecast in color. The NBC television network covered the event.

                 President Kennedy delivering his Inaugural address

Alan B. Shepard,The first American Astronaut to travel
in space, was born on this date in 1923. In 1971 Alan
Commanded the Apollo 14 mission and was the fifth
person to walk on the moon. Shepard died of
Leukemia on July 21, 1998. He was 74.

                              
Alan being congratulated by President Kennedy 
at the White House.