    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [April 22, 1993]
    [Pages 482-483]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 482]]

    Remarks at the National Volunteer Action Award Ceremony
    April 22, 1993

        Thank you very much. I want to thank, first of all, the people who
    have made possible this 12th annual National Volunteer Action Award
    event, begun in the early 1980's under President Reagan, people from the
    Points of Light Foundation and the folks from ACTION. I want to say,
    too, to all of you that this is a matter of great personal pride to me
    to be President and be a part of this today, because I have believed for
    a long time in grassroots community efforts and community service.
        Last year, on the occasion of my birthday, which I share with the
    Vice President's wife, Tipper Gore, our two families went to Georgia and
    built a house with Habitat for Humanity, along with President and Mrs.
    Carter as a way of symbolizing our commitment to national service. And
    my daughter selected a school here in Washington in part because one of
    the requirements of being enrolled in the school was to do community
    service. Just a couple of days ago, she and her group went out and did
    one of their service projects, working to build some park facilities for
    young people who will come behind and use those facilities.
        I can't help but say I'm especially proud today because one of the
    honorees today is the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation
    from my home State. I should say, I had nothing to do with selecting any
    of these awards. [Laughter] But they will tell you that for well over a
    decade I have worked with them in many ways, watching them work against
    often enormous odds to empower poor people in rural areas to seize
    control of their own destinies. So I am especially proud of them as well
    as of all the other honorees.
        I think all of you recognize the fundamental truth that as Americans
    and as human beings we can never be completely fulfilled unless we help
    each other. Just a few moments ago, I was over at the dedication of the
    Holocaust Museum. And we recognized, of course, the great losses of the
    Jewish people, of the Gypsies, and others who were systematically
    exterminated by the Nazis. But we also recognize the services of perhaps
    the most important volunteers in the 20th century, those who put their
    lives at risk to try to save large numbers of the Jews.
        On that cold, wind-whipped occasion, I think it's fair to say that,
    by far, the most popular speaker at the event was a woman who put her
    life at risk to shield Jews from almost certain death and, in the
    process, found a person who became her husband. The Scriptures say that
    in giving we will receive. Perhaps not all of us will find a mate for
    life in our gifts, but all of us certainly will receive.
        I think it has been recognized for a long time that service sustains
    and defines our democracy and helps us to understand that we are not
    brought together by race or religion or region but that we cannot be
    kept apart by those things if we have common values, common interests,
    and undertake common endeavors.
        After all, volunteers won the American Revolution. And ever since,
    volunteers have been winning our wars and winning the battles of
    peacetime. Volunteers helped to get women the right to vote and helped
    to effect the civil rights revolution and help us even today to overcome
    the barriers that divide us.
        All generations have been called upon to serve. And today, as people
    are living longer than ever before, every generation now living is
    called upon to serve, to deepen our lives and to strengthen the bonds of
    our communities. Today is so special to me because we are recognizing
    those of you who have risen to the challenge in particularly innovative
    and effective ways.
        I hope that as we honor you today you will all join me in renewing
    our call for all Americans to embrace the spirit of service. We all have
    roles to play. Even those who are not in organizations represented here
    may be able to help to patrol this, police, and support the work of law
    enforcement officers in areas plagued by high crime, where children are
    unsafe, or may help to volunteer in a community health center where
    health care is available in theory but not in practice unless people can
    find their way to the clinic; or tutoring children after school; or
    being mentors to children who themselves would like to do better but
    don't have the role models they need.
        We bring out the best in our country when we serve. I know that you
    know that I've tried

    [[Page 483]]

    to make sure our Government will do its part. And as Mr. Segal said,
    next week I intend to introduce the national service legislation that I
    hope will change our country for the better and forever to provide a
    revolution in the best sense of the word, bringing us back to our best
    values, offering opportunity, requiring responsibility, and creating a
    stronger sense of the American community.
        Those are the things which drove me into this race for President
    well over a year ago and the things which I hope so deeply will be
    embodied in the national service movement. We want to make opportunity
    available by making it easier to get a loan to go to college and easier
    to pay it off through service, demanding responsibility by making sure
    that everybody who gets something from their Government finally gives
    something back, we hope in service but at least in dollars, and
    rebuilding communities all over this country through our civilian GI
    bill, with thousands of people paying their way to college either before
    or after they go by doing what their communities need.
        We'll bring ourselves a little closer to that sacred day when all of
    our children can live up to their full potential by working together to
    make sure that we do that as well as the children we're trying to help.
    If these efforts are to succeed, the spirit of service must be renewed
    in the hearts of every American, not just in those who will be part of
    the national service movement. I hope that this movement will go well
    beyond party or any other political division in this country. I hope
    that everybody will embrace the cause and the spirit, because I believe
    we can change the country. If we can do it here in the Government, we
    can then challenge our corporations, our foundations, our schools, our
    nonprofits to follow the leads of those whom we honor here today. And if
    we're in it for the long haul because we know we all have a role to
    play, I really believe it means an America finally and fully living up
    to its potential, that is, being more like those of you whom we honor
    today.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:47 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House.