Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 3.djvu/939

 PROCLAMATION 5952—APR. 10, 1989 103 STAT. 3007 and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hun- dred and thirteenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 5952 of April 10, 1989 National Volunteer Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation - ^ Dviring National Volunteer Week, we recognize all those Americans who generously donate their time and energy to the service of others. These selfless individuals have a profound influence upon the life of their communities and the character of our Nation. The abundance of volimtarism and charitable giving across the United States today is not surprising—throughout our Nation's history, Ameri- cans have readily responded to the needs of others. The early Ameri- can settlers relied on each other's help to break groimd and build homes in the New World. Volimteers eventually won our country's In- dependence. The men who later wrote its Constitution set aside their farms and personal interests for a long hot summer in order to shape a government for the new Nation. Their work and the risks they took were not for personal profit, but were for the benefit of all Americans. Men of faith and vision, the Nation's Founding Fathers recognized their responsibilities toward others and toward posterity. Many delegates to the Constitutional Convention solemnly noted that their efforts would determine the fate of futm-e generations. The system of government the Founding Fathers framed so carefully has enabled voluntarism to thrive in the United States. For example, freedom of speech allows us to express openly otu* political and social concerns; freedom of assembly allows us to join together in efforts to improve our communities. In short, our Constitution ensures that the light of individual goodness is not extinguished by the heavy hand of government, but is instead kindled by the bright flame of liberty. Oiur forefathers' sacrifices have helped the United States to become a great and prosperous nation. For the sake of generations to come, our own generation must likewise accept the obligation to serve others. From now on in America, any definition of a successful life must in- clude service to one's neighbor. It is only by continuing this proud tra- dition of service that we ensure our Nation's success. As we look around us today, we see signs of truly successful lives. We see neighbor helping neighbor, Americans serving Americans. Today, nearly half of all adult Americans are active as volunteers. We know them well: the grandmother at church or temple who cares for infants so their parents can attend services, the cook at the local soup kitchen, the tutor who helps the illiterate learn to read, the teen who visits nurs- ing homes, the neighbor who campaigns door-to-door for his favorite candidate, and the family that opens its home to unwed mothers or foster children.

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