    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [June 1, 2002]
    [Pages 922-923]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    June 1, 2002

        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 2 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 nonprofits 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 5 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 keychains 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

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    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.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:35 a.m. on May 31 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on June 1. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    May 31 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.