March 1 is St. David's Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Wales, celebrated in many countries in honor of Welsh culture and heritage. Observances include parades, concerts and fairs, as well as the wearing of leeks or, more recently, daffodils — a tradition that comes from the wearing of leeks by a troop of Welsh soldiers to distinguish themselves from opponents wearing similar clothing.
President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on this date in 1961. By January, 1, 1962, the Peace Corps had trained and placed 580 volunteers in 10 countries. Today, there are 7,671 volunteers in 71 posts serving 76 countries in a range of areas, from teaching to HIV/AIDS awareness, information technology, and business development.
(And today would have been my dad's birthday. Happy birthday in heaven, dad!)
