Remarks by the President to Timken Company Employees
Canton, Ohio

Today, I had the honor of meeting Anson Park. Anson, you need to step out here so people can see you. Come over here. Anson is not hard to miss. (Laughter.) I want to tell you why I want to introduce Anson. You know a lot of focus on America these days is on our military, how strong we are, how mighty we are, how powerful we are. And that's -- it's been helpful to be mighty and powerful. But in the midst of the discussion of our military might, oftentimes, we overlook the true strength of our country. And the true strength of America is the hearts of our fellow citizens. That's the strength of America -- the compassion of neighbor loving neighbor.

Anson Park, is an employee of Enterprise -- he's a volunteer in what they call the Asset Program, with Akron Urban League, which is a mentoring program, a program designed to make sure that every child has a chance to succeed in America, a program that understands that if you're a fortunate soul, if you're somebody with talents to give, you're called upon to lend those talents to help somebody in need.

Whether you become involved in mentoring or in your church or synagogue, in helping in need, the definition of patriotism is to help somebody. And my call to our fellow Americans is our might is more than our military; our might is our compassion for our fellow citizens. And I want to thank you, Anson, and thank thousands across America, and the hundreds in this room who are serving your country by teaching a child to read; or making sure a shut-in gets loved; or helping a boy or a girl at a Boys and Girls Clubs. The strength of America is the compassion of America. And I'm honored you're here, Anson, thank you. (Applause.)

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