    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [March 11, 1991]
    [Pages 247-248]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Point of Light Award Presentation Ceremony for the
    Henderson Hall/Barcroft Elementary School Adopt-A-School Program in
    Arlington, Virginia
    March 11, 1991

        Thank you, Dr. Kahan, and to everybody else--Ms. Treadwell and
    Colonel Buckley, Corporal Simms, and so many others. I'm just delighted
    to be here with you, with the students, all the students of Barcroft,
    and their marine buddies from Henderson Hall.
        You know, this is, as Dr. Kahan said, a very special day because I
    am naming you and these efforts--the marines--the 400th daily Point of
    Light. That's something that this school and all of you can be very
    proud of. And since this event is so special, recognizing our 400th
    Point of Light, I want to tell you just for a minute what this
    recognition means.
        Some of you know that on every single day of the year except Sunday,
    I name as a Point of Light a person or a group serving their community
    somewhere in America, volunteers helping other people. I call them our
    Points of Light because their caring deeds shine like beacons of hope.
        You say, why do we honor them this way? Well, first of all, I name a
    Point of Light each day because I want to show the whole country that
    all of our problems have solutions. In fact, this country is full of
    solutions. You kids here just have to look around you to see that this
    is true--look at how the Henderson Hall marines became your ``Tuesday
    Tutors'' to help you in school. They've shown that caring is one of the
    best solutions that there is.
        Also, I name a Point of Light each day because I want to remind
    people that real success doesn't mean earning a lot of money or wearing
    expensive clothes. Real success means helping someone who needs you. We
    see that success right here. You kids here needed some friends. So 8
    years ago, the Henderson Hall marines became your buddies, buddies both
    in and out of the classroom. Your special friends are real successes
    because they're volunteering their time to help you.
        In addition, by naming Points of Light I want our whole country to
    know who our nation's heroes are. Today's heroes are our neighbors and
    family and friends, anyone who gives of themselves by teaching someone
    to read or by visiting a lonely senior citizen or by helping a lonely
    child. And by naming Points of Light, I want all Americans to discover
    the heroes that they can be. As President, I want to do everything that
    I can to call on each person in America to find a way to serve someone
    in need.
        And so, that's why I came here today, to show the whole country this
    very special relationship between the marines and the students of
    Barcroft. And this relationship shows that there are all kinds of
    heroes. We all know that the front line for some ma- rines was in the
    desert of the Middle East liberating Kuwait. Well, I'm here today to

    [[Page 248]]

    say that there are other marines on another front line, this one right
    here, right here in our own backyard. And these Henderson Hall marine
    buddies are serving our country in another kind of fight, the one to
    help our children be successful, happy students.
        To the marine buddies, I say thank you for the important work that
    you're doing here and for the inspiring example of strength you're
    showing the Nation. And to the kids, to the students, I say I hope
    you'll follow the example of these outstanding marine buddies of yours
    by helping people who need you throughout your whole life. The marines
    are the heroes of today, and I've got this wonderful, warm feeling that
    you'll be the heroes of tomorrow.
        And so, it's my great pleasure to recognize our 400th Point of Light
    and to present to you, the marine buddies, and to you, Dr. Kahan, for
    Barcroft Elementary School, letters of appreciation for the wonderful
    example that you have set for our entire country.
        Thank you all very, very much.

                        Note: The President spoke at 1:57 p.m. in the
                            cafeteria of the school. In his remarks, he
                            referred to Ellen Kahan, principal of the
                            school; Rita Treadwell, civil coordinator of the
                            marine program; Col. Robert R. Buckley,
                            Henderson Hall base commander; and Corp. Dawn
                            Simms, a marine tutor. Following his remarks,
                            the President returned to the White House.