President George W. Bush will meet John Erntson when he arrives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday, November 3. Ernston has volunteered more than 13,000 hours over the past 21 years with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department.

In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years over their lifetime to 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 Huffman as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Erntson began volunteering with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department 21 years ago. Erntson volunteers with the Sheriff Department's Water Patrol and has served as crew chief since 1987. The Water Patrol helps with rescue and recovery, patrols the waterways, and provides safety instruction. During the winter months, the Water Patrol conducts patrols on snowmobiles, educates the public about ice conditions, and responds to ice emergencies. Erntson is also a volunteer snow mobile instructor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

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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