President George W. Bush will meet James F. Mareschal upon arrival in St. Louis, Missouri, on Tuesday, August 26, 2003.   Mareschal has been an active volunteer in the St. Louis community throughout his entire life.

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 Mareschal, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Mr. Mareschal has volunteered in many capacities around his community. For the past ten years, he has volunteered one Saturday each month delivering home-cooked meals to patients in the spinal cord unit at Jefferson Barracks Hospital, providing comfort and a friendly face to those in need.   Since 1985, Mareschal has volunteered with Boys State of Missouri, assisting with their annual general assembly sessions each summer. Mareschal also serves as an honor guardsmen with the Missouri Military Funeral Honors program at the JeffersonBarracksNationalCemetery. Mareschal, along with other members of the American Legion, has performed military funeral honors for more than 1,600 deceased veterans during the past three years.

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.  This summer, the USA Freedom Corps is helping individuals, families, and groups find opportunities to volunteer in their own neighborhoods or on vacations away from home through the new “How I Spent My Summer” initiative.   More information on these opportunities is available at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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