For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 1, 2002
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. It's graduation time on many college
campuses. Members of my administration are traveling around the
country to challenge the class of 2002 to make serving their neighbor
and their nation a central part of their lives. Earlier today, I spoke
to the graduating cadets of West Point, who will provide the ultimate
service to our nation as we fight and win the war on terror.
Americans have always believed in an ethic of service. Americans
serve others because their conscience demands it, because their faith
teaches it, because they are grateful to their country, and because
service brings rewards much deeper than material success. Government
does not create this idealism, but we can do a better job of supporting
and encouraging an ethic of service in America.
During my State of the Union address last January, I asked all
Americans to give at least two years, or 4,000 hours over their lives,
to serving others. And I created the USA Freedom Corps to help
Americans find volunteer opportunities. Whatever your talent, whatever
your background, each of you can do something.
America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in
emergencies; volunteers to help police and fire departments; and
transportation and utility workers trained to spot danger. We have
created a new Citizen Corps to enable Americans to make their own
neighborhoods safer.
America needs citizens working to strengthen our communities. We
need more talented teachers in our troubled schools and more mentors to
love our children. Through the USA Freedom Corps and the Citizen
Service Act introduced in Congress just over a week ago, we will expand
and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to meet the
needs of America's communities. I urge Congress to act quickly on this
good piece of legislation. The USA Freedom Corps is also working with
the non-profits and hospitals, houses of worship, and schools around
the country that offer millions of Americans the chance to serve
others.
And America needs citizens to extend the compassion of our country
to every part of the world. So we are renewing the promise of the
Peace Corps, doubling its volunteers over the next five years, and
asking it to expand its efforts to foster education and development in
the Islamic world. We will fight resentment and hatred with hope and
progress.
Americans from every walk of life are heeding the call to service.
Since my State of the Union address, more than 45,000 Americans have
asked for Peace Corps applications. More than 34,000 citizens have
signed up for the new Citizen Corps initiative. Applications for
AmeriCorps and Senior Corps are also up.
And service knows no age requirement. You're never too old -- or
too young -- to help out. One remarkable act of service came from
13-year-old Ashley Shamberger of Aloha, Oregon. A few months ago,
Ashley wrote me a letter about the patriotic key chains she and her Mom
made and sold to raise money for the children of Afghanistan. She
included a check for $270.88, "to save more kids," as she put it. She
did all this while hospitalized with cancer. Tragically, Ashley died
on the very day her letter reached the White House.
This is the character of our country. This is the soul of our
people. This is the nation we love and can honor through acts of
service. If you'd like to find opportunities to serve your community,
our country, or the world, as so many Americans already have, just
contact USAFREEDOMCORPS.GOV, or call 1-877-USA-CORPS.
Thank you for listening.
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