President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Willie Hunsaker when he arrives in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Monday, August 22, 2005. Hunsaker is a volunteer with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1695 in Brigham City. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with nearly 450 individuals around the country, like Hunsaker, since March 2002.

Hunsaker has been a VFW volunteer for more than 15 years. He makes 100 crosses per year to place on veterans’ gravesites at local cemeteries, assists in the presentation of military honors for funerals at 12 cemeteries in Northern Utah, and places Americanflags on gravesites for MemorialDay festivities. He assists Eagle Scout candidates as they advance through the program, and teaches flag etiquette at local elementary schools. In addition, Hunsaker has been a volunteer driver with Meals on Wheels for nine years.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on every American to dedicate two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives to volunteer service.To help more Americans engage in volunteer service, he created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House charged with strengthening and expanding volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President’s Call to Service. Studies show that approximately 5 million more Americans are volunteering today than just three years ago. Go to http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service opportunity in your area or to find more information about service programs, including national service programs such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Citizen Corps. USA Freedom Corps is also highlighting youth volunteer service. Visit http://www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov for games and ideas designed to show how America's youth are making a difference.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The Award is available to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours. For more information about the Award, please visit http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

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