On his arrival in Orlando, FL on Friday, President George W. Bush will meet Marie Wieland, an Orlando senior citizen who has been an active volunteer in the Orlando community for more than 40 years. In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years of their lives—the equivalent of 4,000 hours—in service to their communities, our country and the world. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country who are answering the call to service, and will recognize Wieland as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Wieland has been a dedicated volunteer with several Orlando organizations, including 40 years of service in the surgical waiting room at the Orlando Regional Healthcare System. While raising three sons, she volunteered with her children's schools as a room mother and served her community through various church-sponsored programs.

As a 77-year-old day care center volunteer at Community Care for the Elderly, Wieland regularly visits with clients and organizes special events. Wieland is active on the boards of several Orlando organizations, including the Children's Home Society of Florida, Community Care for the Elderly, and the Auxiliary of the Orlando Regional Medical Center. She also established teenage volunteer programs for the Florida Hospital Auxiliaries and served as its state chairperson.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to 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 information on the USA Freedom Corps at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-Corps.

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