September 11, 2009
Nearly 100 service projects occurring in Michigan on this National Day of Service and Remembrance
LANSING - In this week's radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said on this first-ever National Day of Service and Remembrance - the culmination of President Obama's United We Serve initiative - volunteers are participating in nearly 100 service projects in Michigan.
"September 11 was officially recognized as a National Day of Service and Remembrance by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which passed with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Obama in April," Granholm said. "A national day of service was sought by 9/11 family members and support groups as a way to honor those who died, and to rekindle the spirit of unity and compassion that followed the attacks."
Granholm said the Michigan service projects happening today include local organizations presenting thank-you cards to firefighters in the Upper Peninsula and veterans in Lenawee County, and the American Red Cross distributing disaster preparedness kits in Grand Rapids.
"And with September being Hunger Action Month," Granholm continued, "fans attending high school football games tonight in Calhoun County and throughout mid-Michigan are being asked to ‘tackle hunger' and bring food items that will be donated to local food banks."
Granholm said people interested in volunteering in their communities can get more information by visiting the United We Serve Web site at http://www.serve.gov, the state of Michigan Web site at
http://www.michigan.gov
, or by calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER.
"On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, volunteering to help our neighbors and strengthen our communities is a fitting way to honor the victims and the heroes of 9/11," Granholm said. "Please help make a positive difference in your community by volunteering."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available on the governor's Web site at (
www.michigan.gov/gov
) for download, together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - National Day of Service
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Today is the first-ever September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, the culmination of President Obama's United We Serve initiative. Volunteers across the country are serving their local communities in honor of the victims and heroes of the 9/11 tragedy. A national day of service was sought by 9/11 family members and support groups as a way to honor those who died and to rekindle the spirit of unity and compassion that followed the attacks.
September 11 was officially recognized as the National Day of Service and Remembrance by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act which passed with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Obama in April.
In Michigan, there are nearly 100 service projects going on today. Here are just a few.
In Marquette, members of the Superior AmeriCorps are circulating thank-you cards for firefighters in five Upper Peninsula counties. Veterans in Lenawee County will receive similar thank-you cards through a project organized by the Lenawee County Volunteer Center and the local Red Cross.
In Grand Rapids, the Red Cross has been collecting items for disaster preparedness kits. Today, a group of volunteers will pack the kits and distribute them at a local community center.
And with September being Hunger Action Month, fans attending high school football games tonight in Calhoun County and throughout mid-Michigan are being asked to "tackle hunger" and bring food items that will be donated to local food banks.
While today marks the end of the summer phase of the United We Serve initiative, it's also the beginning of a new ongoing effort to weave volunteerism and public service into the lives of all Americans.
If you're interested in volunteering, visit the United We Serve Web site at www.serve.gov. Type in your ZIP code, and you can find volunteer opportunities in your local community.
You also can find information on volunteer opportunities on the state of Michigan Web site. Just go to
www.michigan.gov
and type the word "volunteer" in the search box. Or simply call 1-800-VOLUNTEER.
Taking the lead on volunteerism in our state is the Michigan Community Service Commission, chaired by the first gentleman, Daniel Mulhern, my husband. I'd like to thank the commission for its efforts and also the seven members of my Cabinet who participated in United We Serve projects this summer.
On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, volunteering to help our neighbors and strengthen our communities is a fitting way to honor the victims and the heroes of 9/11. Please make a positive difference in your community by volunteering.
Thank you for listening.
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