President George W. Bush will meet Peter Poulos upon arrival in Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday, June 11, 2003. Poulos, a United States Army veteran, has been an active volunteer with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for 18 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 Poulos, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Following his retirement from the U.S. Postal Service in 1976, Poulos began looking for ways to serve his community and help others in need. For the past 18 years, Poulos has volunteered at the Hines Veterans Hospital as part of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). In this capacity, Poulos helps escort patients to appointments, assist with daily errands, and provide comfort and a friendly face to those in need. RSVP is a part of Senior Corps, a network of national service programs that provides older Americans the opportunity to apply their life experience to meeting community needs. Over his lifetime, Poulos has dedicated more than 16,000 hours to volunteer service.

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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