[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 23 (Monday, June 10, 2002)]
[Pages 948-949]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

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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 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.