>> wow. [laughter] . .

information on the contest, the three branches and now. >> today the defense department honored michigan senator carl levin and buck mckeon with a military parade. they're the chairman of the senate and house armed services

committees, and both are retiring from congress this year. defense secretary chuck hagel and joint chief chairman martin dempsey spoke about the legislative careers of the two chairman. this is just under an hour. ♪ ♪ ♪

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block [inaudible conversations] >> the department of defense medal for distinguished public service is awarded to the honorable carl levin for distinguished public service as plane of the united states senate from january 1979 to january 2015, and as chairman and ranking member of the senate armed services committee from january 1997 to january 2015.

senator levin has consistently been leading the -- a leading proponent for the strong national defense, an advocate for service members, veterans and their families. that spans from the cold war to the conflicts in iraq, kosovo, and afghanistan. dead identity protecting our nation's security, his inspirational leadership for 36 sessions of congress has resulted in maintaining a military capable of defending the united states, its allies, and its interests around the world. while fully supporting the men and women of our military and their families in keeping with their sacrifices. senator levin's peerless dedication to men and women in uniform and their families led to a unanimous passing of the wounded warrior project and and the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell." body armor for service members in iraq, pay raises, support for health care, and educational benefits for families as well as improved military voting rights, and care for veterans. these distinguished

accomplishments of senator levin reflect great credit upon himself and the department of defense. signed, chuck hagel, secretary of defense. >> the adapt of defense medal for distinguished public service is awarded to the honorable howard p. buck mckeyon for distinguished public service as a member of the united states houston of representative from january 1993 to january 2015, and as chairman, ranking member, and member of the house armed services committee, from january 1995 to january 2015. with uncommon devotion and steadfast leadership, congressman mckeon was an

unwaiverring proopinion meant for national defense and dedicated champion for the members of armed services. and their families. deeply committed to protecting the nation's security, he led the committee's efforts to fund critical military operations worldwide, and initiated the first overhaul of acquisition in years which helped shape the force to more capably meet the complex challenges of the threats of the 21st century. congressman mckeon's unyielding dedication to support and protect key readiness programs, missile defense, and provide enhancements to troop force protection equipment is our without peer. an aggressive supporter of military vas he advocated for the authorization of important veteran programs that offered counseling, vocational training and college education. of equal significance, his personal leadership and bipartisan focus enabled he house to consistently pass a national defense authorization

act. congressman mckeon, courageously and self-leslie led the armed forces committee in a bipartisan manner that exemplified the exemplary values service, duty, and patriotism. the accomplishments of congressman mcleon reflect great credit upon himself, the department of defense. signed, chuck headachele, secretary of defense. [applause] [applause]

[inaudible] >> post the colors. >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for most of the colors. d the posting of the colors. ♪

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>> ladies and gentlemen, secretary hagel. >> good morning. and thank you. thank you all for being here to help us honor two remarkable american leaders, two public servants who have devoted their careers and lives to protecting america's security and supporting all of those who serve our country in uniform. with increasing pressure to reduce defense budgets, the world growing more volatile and complex, and with the gears of government continuing to grind ever more slowly, chairman levin, chairman mckeon, have worked tirelessly to help provide the department of defense with the resources it

need to do its job. it helped make our military stronger, and our country more secure through their leadership on defense issues and their commitment to our troops and our nation. one of the proudest, most important accomplishments, has been upholding both armed service committees longtime spirit of bipartisanship. they ensured that congress continued its tradition of passing a national defense authorization act every year. given the gridlock of recent years that's not a minimal achievement, and also represents a commitment to responsible and accountable governance. the kind you expect when two leaders whose careers in public service date back to the time of their local city councils. they'll know about responsible, accountable leadership, responsible, accountable

governance. during my service in the senate carl levin was either the chairman or ranking member of the armed services committee and has served on the committee since coming to the senate 36 years ago. he is as dedicated a member of the senate armed services committee as it has ever had. a recent example of that dedication was his recent tripe, few days ago to rain arian, iraq, and jordan, a senator who is retiring. during our years together in the senate there was no colleague's advice i respected more than carl levin. and i often sought his advice on many issues. i always appreciate hit straightforward style, his honesty, his outreach, his informed and clear thinking and, maybe most importantly about carl levin, his decency and civility.

carl levin is the kind of elected leader america will always need. the kind, i hope, we all hope, america will always have. the kind of leader who always does what he believes is the right thing, the right thing for his country. he puts his country first. so does buck mckeon. so does buck mckeon. as an army grandparent buck has always fought hard to provide or service members and families with the resources and support they need and deserve, and after nearly 20 years on the house armedded services committee he has been among congress' strongest advocates to ensure our military has the capabilities to meet the complex and challenging threats it faces today and will face in the fewer. like carl levin, this retiring member of congress just returned from a trip to israel, jordan, egypt, and morocco. and like carl levin, he is

demonstrating his absolute commitment to our country and our military right to the end of his career. over the past year and a half that i've been secretary of defense, i've counted on buck'sed a series, his honest--- -- buck's advice, honest, is insights and his friendship. he is a man of equal dose offices immense courtesy, devotion, ability, and character. it's rare, especially these days in our politics to find an elected leader as open to a vigorous debate and different opinions,out respectful of others' opinions and points of view and always willing to listen as buck mckeon. buck mckeon never allowed politics to get personal. that's why both of these unique american leaders are highly regarded and admired. they're not only admired in our country but throughout the world. as we all know there is always

tension between the executive branch and the legislative branch. that is how our founders designed the system. but that tension forces us to work together. to make our country better, our government stronger, and more responsive and accountable. but it really depends to a great extent on the leaders themselves, and their commitment to making it work. carl and buck have demonstrated that commitment throughout their careers. they have made their committees and government work. and they've done it the right way, the way americans deserve to be represented and the way americans can be proud of their representatives. they have always made the system work. today, given the multitude and diversity of complicated threats and challenges that face our country, the relationship between the department of defense and congress must go beyond checks and balances. it must be a partnership, a real

partnership, where we work together for america's common good and our common defense. the department of defense and all its people will always be grateful for what chairman levin and chairman mckeon have done for them and our nation. we also appreciate their wives. and their families. we appreciate the tremendous sacrifices of your families. thank you. to barbara and patricia especially, and tower your families, the mckeon family, the levin family, thank you. we know, being the spouse of a congressman or senator is not easy. so we thank you for the constant love and encouragement and support you have always provided to carl and buck. provided over so many years of their distinguished, very distinguished public service. carl and buck, thank you. we will miss you. i will miss you. i will miss you greatly.

but you have earned and deserve a break. you served our country so well. and we all wish you and your families every god's blessing. thank you for your service. thank you, ladies and gentlemen. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, general dempsey. >> secretary hagel, service sects, i saw several of the chiefs, the jcs, military leaders, civilian leaders. i'm mindleful of the fact as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff there's many thing is have to do, and there's also a handful of things that remind me what a privilege it is that i get to do. and today i get to represent the

men and women that serve america's armed forces in uniform and their family in thanking two great patriots and american leaders, and i get to do that and i'm mindful of the great privilege it is to do. so thank you all for attending this ceremony. i sat with the chairman mckeon -- by the way, don't know when the last time there were three chairmans sitting side-by-side-by-side on this field but it will be a memory i'll keep. when we watched the fife and bagpipe cross by, we marvel at the troops on the field, we listen in awe to the national anthem as we do everyday it's played, but maybe today played with a little sweeter tune for the two of you, and i hope you think about it that way. and it occurred to me what you have really done for america's armed forces is made sure we remain the best. the best by far. we overmatch. we dominate. we're just the best.

we're the best musicians. we're the best infantry men next coast guards men's marks reasons, the best fighters, the best, period, and that doesn't happen by accident and happens with the kind of partnership that secretary of defense mentioned and it happens when we are partnered with two great leaders like the two of you. i'd especially like to join secretary hagel in thanking barbara levin and patricia mckeon and all the friends and family who supported our two honoree0s over their congressional careers. thank you for being here today and for being there for them and being there for us through the years. both of these leaders have been absolutely stead fast champions of our nation's defense. and of those who serve in uniform. they will be missed by those of us who have been privileged to serve with them. for more than five decades of combined service these two remarkable public servants have worked to overcome the

difficulties inherent in the defense of this nation. they've worked across the aisle on many defense bills to determine -- to help determine the kind of military the united states and the american people need and deserve, the right mix of capables and programs to protect our national interests. their leadership has helped make the nation's military the best led, the best trained, best equipped, in the world, ever. chairman levin, owe you a personal debt of gratitude if you hadn't been such a staunch supporter during several confirmation processes for me, i might have preceded you in retirement. come to think of it, i'm not sure whether to thank you or to blame you. and chairman mckeon, your leadership on the house armed services committee has been so legendary your colleagues have renamed the fiscal year 2015 defense authorization act after you. i'm just glad your name won't be on the appropriations bill because i don't want there to be

any confusion about who gets the money. and while i -- and chairman, plural, on behalf of our men and women in uniform and their families, let me thank you for your leadership, for all you have done for our nation, you devotion will continue to resonate throughout the ranks. we will proudly be part of your congressional legacy. thank you very much. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, senator levin. >> well, secretary hagel, chairman dempsey, this is really an overwhelming moment for me and my wife, barbara. on this extraordinary day for us, we look out at this glorious, glorious sight, the men and women in uniform who represent the best of this country. i very much thank you for your introductions, the awards and recognition, and i would just

spend a few minutes kind of reminiscing about those 36 years. i never was in the armed services, and when i came through washington 36 years ago, i decided i was going to join the armed services committee to learn. to learn what had missed. and i hope i've learned a lot, and i think i've learned a lot. and, buck, one of the things i've learned is the beauties of working in a bicamera way between the house and senate, working with you and your predecessors, in a bipartisan way, our determination over the previous years to produce a bill, and a very difficult setting and environment at

times, our determination to finish our service here with a final defense authorization bill for us, even though it may come down to the wire again, it keeps us young. but we will do it. we're both determined that we will pass, i believe, the 53rd 53rd straight authorization bill, and we will not fail in that. >> some of the things i've learned, of course i've seen incredible courage of our men and women who have been in battle, been in harm's way, putting on the uniform of this country, so proudly, and when wounded, their fierce determination to carry on, and to go back, if possible, into harm's way. i have seen it in hospitals,

i've seen it in the eyes of families that have supported those men and women who put on our uniform. i've seen the wisdom and advice of our leaders, such as chuck hagel, and general dempsey. wisdom that we need on the senate and the house of representatives. as to how to prevail and to win when we go to battle, but also how to deter and to avoid where that is possible and consistent with our nation's interests. to deter and to avoid the battles which cause so much destruction but at times are so necessary. i've seen what american power can do. and the extraordinary achievements that american power can give us. but i've also learned the limits

of our power and understand those limits. i've seen the loyalty of our men and women in uniform to each other as well as to this country. and to the determination that they have, that they will not leave a buddy behind. no matter what the circumstances, and even though that buddy may have done some things which appear to be less than what your standards are, it makes no difference. the loyalty or men and women have to each other is so fierce, that determination is so great, it should be an inspiration to every american. the courage of our wounded warriors, i've already mentioned i'll add the power of something else and that's the power of working together. the jointness, the goldwater

nick koles act which promoted that jointness, and how much stronger we are that when we all and you al of do you all work as one. i've seen the role of the commanders, how important that role is, to making sure that we are ready and that our spirit and loyalty to each other is undiminished by differences of race or gender or sexual orientation. i've seen the power of that command and those commanders overcome some differences that needed to be overcome, whether they were differences that resulted in "don't ask, don't tell" and the need to repeal that policy so that we all could be whoever we are, and the power

of the commanders, the need for our commanders, the responsibility of our commanders, now when we are addressing the problems that we have had when we have not dealt adequately with sexual assault or sexual harassment. our commanders are key, and they have stepped up to our history to their role, and they are stepping up to that role. i've seen the importance, vital importance, of bipartisanship in security policy and foreign policy and how, when we don't live up to bipartisanship, how our country is weakened. i've seen the way our leaders, our military leaders, civilian and uniformed, have not only produces most powerful army and the army with the greatest spirit that is in the world, i've also seen how they represent us around the world.

they're great diplomats as well as great military leaders. and men and women in uniform who have not only offered their lives to us but they've given us an extra gift. a gift they didn't maybe even realize they were signing up for. and that is the way in which the men and women in uniform and our veterans, obviously, have helped the to unify this country, have given us a gift of unity, because the people of the united states love the people who serve news our military, and our veterans. there's a love affair between our people and you. and that love affair, that determination, that we provide you everything that you need to succeed in battle and to in peacetime recover from wounds of war, and to support your family.

that determination of northwestern people bipartisan, knows snow geography, is so -- no geography, is so keen when we fall short -- at timestimes do do -- they will remind us with great vigor what service to this country means and how we must all do the best we can to support the men and women in uniform and the families that support them. that gift of unity is so needed in our country. we don't have too many sources at at that times that keep us unified but men and women in uniform, your courage, braverly, dedication, loyalty to each other is a huge source of unity in a country which desperately needs unifying factors. and so, i'm here with my wife today, barbara, and many of our staff and former staff, and

we -- mentioning my wife barbara one last time. she is the proud sponsor of the combat ship which is being built, called the uss detroit. it's lcs-7, and she has become so deeply involved. before that with military families and military children, and now she -- when i know when she is not at home i know where she is. she is studying how to break a bottle of champagne. so thank you so much for these honors. i want to thank our leaders, secretary hagel, general dempsey, and everyone with whom they serve for their great, great contribution to the defense of this country. thank you for your friendship and your very, vary warm words this morning. thank you. [applause]

ladies and gentlemen, congressman mckeon. >> thank you, secretary hagel, chairman dempsey, senator levin. service secretaries, members of the joint chiefs, family and friends, most importantly, the men and women standing in uniform. i'm humbled by your attendance here today. i wish i had the words, mr. secretary, chairman, senator to thank you for the hunt i've had to work with you, for your kind words that you just spoke. you know, the longer i've been in congress the more opportunity i've had to work with the men and women in uniform, and those

who serve in the men and women in uniform, civilians. i wish i had the words to adequately express to you my feelings of admiration, respect, and to me, just looking out here, the young men and women that have dedicate their lives to us, it just says what america is. that is -- it's amazing, at the outset i want to thank my wife, patricia, 52 years. she has stood by me, very, very patient. thank you for your love, for your support. we have one of our sons and his wife with us today, dave and crystal. we want to thank them. we have six children, 30 grandchildren, and i'm going to spend a little more time with them. i know the best way to show

gratitude to the troops in review is to keep my remarks short. i represent a large district in california but i've always thought of every man, woman, in uniform and their families, as my constituents. before the first world war, the germans were considered to have the best army in the world. after the war a german general said this: i fought in campaigns against the russian army, the serbian army, the romanian army, the british army, the french army, and the american army. i participated in more than 80 battles. i have found your american army the most honorable of all enemies. you have been the bravest of our enemies. to this day, you wear the uniform of the finest military in the world. i believe you stand here as the

finest military on this earth in history. you carried on the traditions of bunker hill and gettysburg and you made your own mark in tora bora, fallujah, and ram -- are a mad di. you have earnedded eternal swat gratitude from your fellow meshes, envy from fellow nations and fear from your enemies. it's been the greatest honor of my thrive d of my life to serve you in congress. everything that senator levin and i did, every bill, every debate in the house and senate, every tough negotiation, all were for those of you in uniform, and your families. if anything can be said about our tenure as armed services chairmen, i hope it is we alaska

worthy of your sacrifice. you have my sincerest thanks. god bless each and every one of you. god keep you as we enter a new conflict in the middle east, and god bless these united states of america. [applause]

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[drumming] >> ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's ceremony. please remain in place as the official party departs. thank you for your attendance enjoy the rest of your day. [applause]

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>> good morning, president obama. president clinton, members of congress, and distinguished guests. amore core -- americorps alums, americorps members. happy birthday americorps. what an incredible honor it is to stand before you as we celebrate 20 years of service to america. please take your seats. since that first class, donned their gray shirts, 900,000 americans have served in americorps. [applause] >> and they committed 1.2 billion hours of service to get things done for america. now here we are, at the white

house, joining ceremonies that are taking place across the nation, in all 50 states, at this moment and throughout the day, including territories. it's really an historic moment for every one of us. at this time, i would like to ask the members of the 2014 class of americorps to stand. [applause] >> the rest of our guests, the pledge is in your program and we invite you to follow along. as we recite the americorps pledge. let us remember that these very exact words were first spoken here at the white house 20 years ago today. and, members, as you say these words, please consider its

meaning. take these words to heart. think about them. and i hope that you will live these words from this day on. please raise your right hand and repeat after me: i will get things done for america. will get things done for america. >> to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. >> to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. ...

[applause] >> good morning. >> good morning. >> you guys are all so beautiful up here. twenty years ago i applied to become an americorps member because i wanted to challenge myself and contribute to my community. during my years as and americorps vista at the los angeles free clinic i realize that where a child eats, sleeps, place, and

goes to school profoundly impact self. i felt the gravity of poverty. i learned the power of resilience. my experience fundamentally changed me. i am now a pediatrician at uc s f children's hospital oakland. [applause] i served a love. twenty years ago i took a place to make our communities safer, smarter, and healthier. i carry this place with me every day. s. americorps we elevate our nation by being an indispensable force club promoting resilience in the face of adversity.

together we strengthen american. as americorps and americorps alums we get things done. [applause] my experience and that of nearly 900,000 fellow americans would not have been possible without the wisdom of vision, and perseverance of president bill clinton. [applause] our nation is so grateful for his lead. it is my extraordinary honor to introduce the inspirational president bill clinton. >> thank you very much thank you

. thank you for your service. mr. president, thank you for inviting me to share this stay with you, and thank you for your long history of community service. facebook.com/booktv enduring impact remains after 20 years one of the most important things i ever have a role in in public service. twenty-one years ago on this lawn we established call americorps in the presence of the late sergeant shriver who started the war on poverty. his brother-in-law presidents kennedy which see it used to sign the peace corps bill.

twenty years ago on this very day we swore in the first americorps class. as i said then and i believe is even more important today services as part to rekindle the spirit of democracy in an age of uncertainty. i shared that great day with all lot of people, including hillary, who campaigned across america with me in 1992 promising we would create a national service program. participated in all kinds of community service. first foul was the children's defense fund arkansas at our university. we have lived this for a long time. i'm what says think one person, our lead sponsor,

senator barbara because he who has been a determined to fend. there were many people in the white house involved, including doris, seagal, and i wanted thank in particular our first and when i left office biggest americorps component sitting here i think congressman john lewis and congressman david price it were here then all that long time ago and supported it. i wanted thank those who are not here, the man who shepherded the legislation

through congress, the corporation the national community service, the late eli segal whose wife phyllis is here. you would not be here without his efforts either. but most important, the celebration of this day goes to the volunteers and what they did with their lives in americorps and after it. americorps works because all of view that went before kept her promise to get things done. americorps works because there are people from every walk of life, from every religion, from every racial and ethnic groups, straight and gay, seven, number all western, eastern, people who have already finished college and people who don't have their high-school diplomas. and all things in between.

there are now mountains and mountains and mountains of social research which proved that people who work together in diverse groups make better decisions and get more done. therefore creative corporation beech constant conflict every single time. you prove that every day. i want to thank -- the first efforts started in philadelphia in 1736 pitbull four we became a country. you know, these americans, they are not like where i come the middle and they want something to happen

they complain about it for a day or two and then they just thought my new organization and your bill would. president roosevelt in 1933. conservation. president johnson, but the war on poverty in 1964. in the 80's that was part of our group, the carnegie corporation called turning points, and we recommended to minute service the apart every middle school curriculum, 30 states now give credit for community service toward high-school graduation. and, i am proud to say the district of columbia and maryland required thanks to kathleen kennedy townsend, tennant governor of maryland , president george h. w. bush points of light foundation still thriving, and i want to say, there has been a bipartisan spirit at

least at the executive level on this issue. when he left office my predecessor, president bush, has made to preserve. we doubled it. and i've left off as i ask my successor, president bush, to save facebook.com/booktv and he increased it. president obama was kind enough to invite me in 2009 to the ceremony in which he and l.a. senator edward kennedy promised to increase against. and i hope that the congress will call on this occasion to reconsider its opposition to this but to request and give us a chance to build some more. [applause] for a thousand reasons this is a wonderful investment in america's future. a 1 billion hours a public-service.

a return on investment of almost $4 for every $1 invested. the federal government, a few dollars of expenditure. every dollar gets another dollar from some other organization. those kind of numbers. unbelievably enough that may be an impact on people like our other speakers, not the president tonight, that is most important. 66 percent of americorps -- americorps volunteers -- say it, 66 percent chose public service as a career. virtually three-quarters of them continue to be regular weekly volunteers. what a difference you've made.

i know this is a difficult time. i know all americans pray for our president and our men and women in uniform epic of the rainbow. even our solar and wind resources it is more important than anything else. it is what is in your heart and your ability to advance the common good to start to four. thank you and god bless you. [applause]

>> president obama once said the best in the is up to her in honor of his mother but some my mother and my father my mother had to work. she emigrated from coast to reject a move to florida. my grandparents emigrated from the dominican republic to new jersey, and others allege two years old age. he proudly served as u.s.

marine corps and work for the local and federal court system in south florida for nearly 30 years. my parents worked harder than anyone i know to ensure that the dreams of my and your sister and i have access to the best opportunities right here in america. and now i have the option ready to serve my country as a public ally, teeth and remember, the ymca. [applause] wilbur in helping to create an after-school program the young boys who want a better life. i could not pay more proud to stand 90 today can become a part of the family of americorps members like our president. i will get things done. please join me in welcoming the president of the united states, president barack

obama. [applause] [applause] >> hello, everybody. thank you. thank you, everybody. thank you so much. thank you. everybody have a seat will be have a seat. welcome to the white house. [applause] give ivan a big round of applause for the introduction. [applause] in thank you for sharing your story. and i wanted thank all of you for joining president clinton and me in celebrating the 20th anniversary of americorps. i wanted thank some strong supporters of national service you are here today. we've got treasury secretary jack lew, who as a young aide to president clinton -- i mean, they both still look

good -- [laughter] -- but 20 years ago helped to write the legislation creating americorps 20 year legacy. [applause] so thank you, jack, for their great job. might -- you already heard from windy spencer, who is -- she never runs out of energy and is reflective of the spirit of americorps -- the ceo of the corporation for national and community service. [applause] great job, wendy. my dear friend of former senator harris wofford, who not only use to run cncs, but also helped to create vista and the peace corps. i don't know anybody who's got a greater legacy of creating community and helping people to channel their civic virtues then harris wofford. [applause] we're so proud of him. carrie hessler-radelet, the new director of the peace corps. and where scary? there she is right there. [applause] we've got congressman john

lewis. [applause] who did not have a americorps program. he just went out which is why i am standing here. david price. [applause] senator martin heinrich, the first americorps a lot to be elected to the senate. [applause] and everybody who's here who played a part in creating and sustaining americorps, both in the clinton administration and the bush administration and in congress, and all the service leaders who mobilized and rallied over the years to keep americorps going. i think all of you for living a life of active and energetic and engaging to citizenship, because it has made america strong grip. you have made america strong because of what you've done. now, as president clinton mentioned, not everybody who played an enormous role in

this could be here today -- to people in particular who aren't, but you are in our hearts : eli segal, who did so much to get the corporation for national and community service up and running two decades ago. [applause] and the man whose extraordinary achievements live on because he never stopped asking what he could do for his country, our dear friend senator ted kennedy. [applause] his name is on the wall that i signed five years ago expanding americorps. it was one of the last big public events. more opportunities to give back to their communities in the country. and his wife as well as a less wife are here as well. we thank you so much for everything that you've done and for your support. [applause]

now, as when the mentioned, you are here are part of a national event. since yesterday, 9/11 day of service hundreds of thousands of americans have taken part in service projects in all 50 states. we spent a few hours helping out a school here in d.c. joe biden volunteer down the street at george washington university. and today, thousands of americans are taking the pledge as new americorps members. president george h. w. bush is wearing in volunteers in maine. [applause] president george w. bush and laura bush have found the video that is being shown across the country. [applause] so it echoes back to that day in 1994, when president clinton swore in that first class of americorps members right here at the white house. and some of the people who are here were in that class -- and if you work, you

might remember him saying that you were starting a journey that would change our lives forever. that americorps would change the life of the nation, that it would give new life to the values that bind us together as americans. and that was a bold claim. but bill clinton is an optimist and he knew from his own life as i know from mine what service to do. the sense of common purpose that cultivates, the a opportunity to join our fellow americans to work together for something other than just ourselves for something bigger, the common good. so he had high hopes on that bright september day, and he was not the only one. william consuegra took the americorps pledge that day, and then he went to work for

youth harvested texas helping high-school students improve their literacy skills. twenty years later, he still a public servant cannot help the communities in mexico with community development. matthew little took the place that day. he went to work for city here in boston police says he discovered a new source of inspiration. students who came with s and left mile mark club with ace , and he has been educators ever since. [applause] sondra samuels took that pledge that day. she headed to philadelphia helping communities reduce violent crime and gang activity. tnc says that americorps taught her, that i collected my country and actually make it different, not just wish it were different been reading in chicago, bright, eager young women shared and out of that day, to produce she had recently left her job and a law firm and became the founding executive director of public allies in chicago, nonprofit

that trains young people for careers in public service and soon after public allies receive one of the very first grants that americorps ever awarded, and that the young woman happens to live with me. her name is michelle obama. so the obama household was on board with americorps from the start. [applause] and for those of you know why story starting off as a community organizer, i would not be standing here if it were not for service to others. and the purpose that service gave to my own life. i moved to chicago to become a community organizer in part to of that time when steel plants have closed down and hope had tried upper. and i was not sure what i was doing. i was not sure if i would be successful. i was working with a group

of churches out there did not have a lot of funding. i think my starting salary was $13,000 a year and gas expenses. but what i found was that with patients and dedicated effort i could make a difference. it was not always under percent of what i wanted to be sometimes distorted%, sometimes 50 percent, but it turned out that you could bad history forward, shape it, see the lives of people that you cared about improving because of blood, sweat, and tears you were putting into it. i cut down the community and began to understand what citizenship meant, not just an abstraction, not just words on a page, not just rights and privileges, but duties and responsibilities.

and it gave me a sense of direction about how long i wanted to live my life. so as it turned out, the idea of making a difference in other people's lives made a difference in my. it made me whole. it gave me a center. it gave me at compass. and that, when i looked out on to all these young people , is what is going to happen to them. most of them are probably a lot more than i was at that time. probably more gifted and more talented but that's why when i look out i can't describe how inspired i.m., because in each of you i see unfurling of the incredible, wonderful things that you're going to be doing. for 20 years after president clinton signed and swore in

that first americorps class, more than 900,000 americans have learned the same lesson that i learned by surging through americorps. and they come from all walks of life -- small towns, big cities, of backgrounds, all age groups, done everything from deliver emergency leave in the aftermath of disasters to staffing health clinics in underserved communities cannot helping veterans find jobs. they have touched millions of lives. they felt america become stronger and more resigned so you're right. americorps has changed the life of our nation. now it is up to us to make sure it continues because we're not just here to celebrate what has already been achieved but to rededicate ourselves to the work that lies ahead. and the world -- [applause]

we are here to get things done. we're here to get things done. my administration has been determined to build on the foundation of president bush , president clinton and both presidents bush. we are determined to help americorps succeed. we have seen the outcomes that americorps members produce and prove literacy in the schools where they worked. so if we are smart congress will fund this calling that has meant so much to some many and keep americorps strong and we will keep doing our part. [applause] that is why i created the task force on national service last year to find new ways to expand and improve national service. we tested innovations, creating new models a partnership. we've reached out to the private sector. so americorps is as effective today as it has ever been. we've created 84 programs to address specific needs. for example, if the mccourt

trains -- [applause] -- trains and deploys national service members to help communities recover from disasters like hurricane and tornadoes. school turnarounds' americorps says talented individuals into underachieving schools. [applause] the new justice americorps will pare americorps members are lawyers and paralegals with unaccompanied and grandchildren to get them legal help. [applause] stem americorps is mobilizing scientists and engineers to inspire young people to discover and tinker and innovate and make things. [applause] and we brought businesses and nonprofits on board. we have seen again and again and-service have sent people gain diet will skills and training and employers have noticed. what to do more to help pass all service members find good jobs after they wrap up their service.

that is the idea behind the initiatives are announcing today behind employers of national service. if you are an employer who wants to hire talented, dedicated, periodic, skilled, tireless, energetic workers, look to americorps and the people. kaj and organizations like united way and others are signing you want to my new team. that includes our newest members. you have catherine majestic the pledge helping homeless

veterans find housing through habitat for humanity here in washington. you have the case of boy who took the pledge. and through city year she's going to be -- [applause] -- she's leading a team for tutors for kids like herself and her old neighborhood in southeast d.c. ivan, who you just heard from took the pledge in mentoring young people through public allies in maryland. [applause] 75,000 members of this year's americorps class will spread out across the country, and they are doing their part to help make america safer and healthier and more fair and more just -- because like all those who serve their country through americorps, they don't just believe in, but live out a fundamental truth, and that is that people will love their country can change it. that is the genius of america. that is the promise of americorps. it is one of the reasons i am so committed to this program and why am so hopeful about the future. we are proud of you pair

read that goes for all the americorps members over the years. and i'll always be proud to serve a country where there are such striving, driving citizens like all of you. congratulations. come bless you, and god bless america. thank you, president clinton. [applause] [applause] ♪ ♪

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