Thursday, November 22, 2007

Congressman Gilchrest to Lead Public Discussion on Iraq War at Washington College

Chestertown, MD — Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest will lead a discussion and public forum on the Iraq War situation when he presents "Iraq And Back: Congressman Gilchrest Shares Perspectives on the War in Iraq," at Washington College's Hynson Lounge on Tuesday, November 27, at 7 p.m.

Gilchrest, a Republican, has been Kent County's Congressman for the past nine terms. A native of Rahway, New Jersey, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating high school in 1964 and served his country during the invasion of the Dominican Republic and in the Vietnam War. He became a platoon sergeant in Vietnam, where he was wounded in combat. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star.

After an honorable discharge, he studied liberal arts at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware, where he received an associate's degree, and then went on to receive a bachelor's degree in history from Delaware State College in 1973. He discovered his passion for teaching and has taught American history, government and civics in New Jersey, Vermont and for eight years at Kent County High School.

He was first elected to Congress in 1990, and has been a champion for many environmental issues, especially the Chesapeake Bay and global climate change. He has earned a reputation as an independent thinker, who has bucked his party and his leadership on issues that matter to his district and his constituents.

He recently co-founded the House Dialogue Caucus and has been a leader in bringing together members of both parties to reach concensus on policy issues involving Iraq and the Middle East. He has visited Iraq and the Middle East three times since the war began, and he just returned from his latest visit last month.

His presentation at Washington College comes at a critical time in the world debate on U.S. policy in Iraq and how that relates to Iran and the ongoing tensions between Israel and the Arab world.

"Iraq and Back" is presented by the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs. Hynson Lounge is located in Hodson Hall. Admission to "Iraq and Back" is free and open to the public.

November 21, 2007

No comments:

Post a Comment