[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

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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.