For Immediate Release
Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
February 26, 2004

To recognize the contribution citizens make in helping to keep our hometowns secure, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and other high-level Department officials will meet with volunteers active in Citizen Corps when they travel across the country.

"Citizens are a critical component of any endeavor to secure the homeland and I want to personally thank those who have taken that message to heart.  By keeping our hometowns safer, we make our country safer," said Secretary Ridge.

Through Citizen Corps, the Department of Homeland Security provides local opportunities for everyone to participate in hometown security through personal preparedness, training, and volunteer opportunities.

Launched in January 2002 as part of President George W. Bush's USA Freedom Corps initiative to promote a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility, Citizen Corps has quickly grown to a national network of over 1,000 state, local, and tribal Citizen Corps Councils serving more than 42 percent of the total U.S. population.  In addition to the four charter Citizen Corps Programs, Community Emergency Response Teams, Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, and the Department's citizen preparedness Ready campaign, Citizen Corps has also partnered with 15 affiliate programs to help coordinate the range of opportunities in which citizens can participate.  

On February 11, Mr. Rocco Forgione of Somerville, MA became the first Citizen Corps volunteer to meet with the Secretary.  Mr. Forgione began volunteering at the American Red Cross and then joined the Somerville Auxiliary Fire Department,  where he became involved with Citizen Corps. He has won several awards for his role as volunteer firefighter and is currently an instructor-in-training for his local CERT.

"I feel extremely honored to be the Citizen Corps volunteer selected to represent Somerville to the Secretary," said Forgione. "As a volunteer firefighter, I understand the importance of community preparedness and have seen the positive impact it has had on my hometown."

Later this week, Citizen Corps volunteers will meet with Department officials in New Orleans, Detroit, and Milwaukee.  These cities have active Citizen Corps Councils that engage citizen volunteers to help with a variety of emergency  preparedness challenges.

To find out more about Citizen Corps and to find the Council nearest you, visit www.citizencorps.gov.

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