U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today encouraged the nation's more than 100,000 schools to mark Sept. 17 as Constitution Day by participating in the "Pledge Across America." Secretary Paige made the announcement during his annual back-to-school speech at the National Press Club.

"In the past year, our nation has grown stronger, and our students have learned firsthand the priceless principles of freedom and democracy that our great nation was built upon, particularly at a time when those values were being attacked," Paige said.

"President Bush has encouraged all of the nation's schoolchildren to participate in a 'September of Service' and begin a service activity or service project to help others. Similarly, I encourage all of our nation's schools to participate in the Pledge Across America on Sept. 17. This is an excellent opportunity for all of us to participate in the renewal of American citizenship and celebrate our freedom with one voice. Our free nation will only survive if our children -- tomorrow's leaders -- understand the concept in our pledge that we are 'one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

The synchronized Pledge of Allegiance will begin at 2 p.m. EDT; 1 p.m. CDT; noon, MDT; 11 a.m. PDT; 10 a.m. in Alaska; and 8 a.m. in Hawaii.

More than 130,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools, home schools, and after-school programs throughout the country will receive service guide materials in September. In addition, AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers are encouraged to recruit more young people for service opportunities and to work closely with schools and community organizations to support in-school and after-school programs. Through these efforts, young people will learn how important service is to our nation and how to get started today.

The September of Service is organized by the USA Freedom Corps, which President Bush created to encourage and assist Americans in finding service opportunities in their local communities and around the world. The president has called on all Americans to dedicate at least 4,000 hours of their lives to serving others.

The Pledge Across America is being organized by Celebration USA, a nonprofit organization whose "purpose is to teach children the basic principles of American democracy and to invigorate patriotism."

For more information about the Pledge Across America, please visit or www.celebrationusa.org.

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