President George W. Bush will meet William Keith Nichols upon arrival in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, November 1, 2003. Nichols, a Memphis native, has been an active volunteer with the Desoto County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit and the Emergency Management Agency for the past 15 years.

Earlier this year, President Bush celebrated the first anniversary of the USA Freedom Corps – his initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country, like Nichols, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Currently serving as deputy commander with the Desoto County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Nichols operates emergency response training for other volunteers and assists with all types of search and rescue needs within his community. Through the Desoto County Emergency Management Agency, Nichols serves as the operations officer, coordinating volunteers and response activities during any emergency situation. For the past three years, Nichols has volunteered as a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT, a component of Citizen Corps, provides training in emergency preparedness and basic response techniques to individuals, enabling them to take a more active role in personal and public safety.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to volunteer service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find opportunities in their own neighborhoods through the USA Freedom Corps web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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