FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 30, 2003
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The White House - USA Freedom Corps
Kathleen Mynster 202-456-7381 |
President Bush to Recognize Paducah Man for Dedication to Volunteer Service |
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President George W. Bush will meet Jack Johnston upon arrival in Paducah,
Kentucky, on Saturday, November 1, 2003. Johnston has been an active volunteer
in the Paducah community for the past 50 years.
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 Johnston, who are answering the call to volunteer service.
Since 1953, Johnston has been an active volunteer assisting with emergency
response activities throughout McCracken County. Most recently, Johnston has
focused his volunteer service with the Paducah Office of Emergency Management,
specifically working with the Disaster Emergency Services Rescue Division. In
this capacity, Johnston assists with rescue situations such as car accidents and
emergencies along the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers. Johnston also serves as a storm
watcher, monitoring specific areas of McCracken County during severe weather
conditions in order to keep officials informed on storm activity and possible
emergency situations. For the past five years, Johnston has volunteered as a
member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT, a component of
Citizen Corps, provides training in emergency preparedness and basic response
techniques to local trainers who in turn train citizens, enabling them to take a
more active role in personal and public safety.
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. Interested volunteers can find opportunities in their own
neighborhoods through the USA Freedom Corps web site at
www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by
calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.
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