At Ohio State, Bush Seeks Volunteers

President Bush on Friday urged young Americans to dedicate themselves to a lifetime of serving others, telling about 6,000 Ohio State University graduates that volunteerism is “a matter of conscience.”

In a commencement address, his second this spring, the president recalled the selfless acts of the Sept. 11 heroes and told his audience: “You will determine whether our new ethic of responsibility is the break of a wave or the rise of a tide. You will determine whether we become a culture of selfishness and look inward or whether we will embrace a culture of service and look outward.”

In his commencement address at West Point two weeks ago, Bush enunciated a policy of preemptive military strikes against terrorists. In his speech Friday, he mentioned the war on terrorism largely in the context of public service.

Those killed on Sept. 11 trying to save the lives of others “led the first counterattack in the war on terror,” he said.

“In these events we relearned something large and important: The achievements that last and count in life come through sacrifice and compassion and service.”

One reason Bush chose to speak at Ohio State is that the school has an unusually high rate of volunteerism, with nearly 70% of graduating seniors having performed public service.

“Your idealism is needed in America,” the president said, adding that too many citizens still are relegated to “the shadow of our nation’s prosperity.”

“America needs more than taxpayers, spectators and occasional voters. America needs full-time citizens. America needs men and women who respond to the call of duty, who stand up for the weak, who speak up for their beliefs, who sacrifice for a greater good.”

Bush launched a major federal volunteer program, USA Freedom Corps, in January, urging each American to spend at least 4,000 hours over a lifetime performing community service.

Since then he has frequently touted volunteerism in speeches around the country.

To further encourage volunteerism, he announced a new partnership between the Freedom Corps and an array of the nation’s largest service organizations. This will create “the most comprehensive clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities ever assembled,” he said.

After his speech, Bush received an honorary doctorate of public administration. Others honored included New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

That prompted an aside from the president during his remarks: “I guess we’re both being honored as legends of baseball--legends, at least, in our own minds.” Bush is a onetime managing partner and an owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team.

Later in the day, the president traveled to Houston, where he toured a summer enrichment camp run by the Assn. for the Advancement of Mexican Americans. He spoke again about volunteerism.

Noting that Friday was Flag Day, Bush said: “We can talk about patriotism, but a true patriot is one not only who salutes the flag, but a true patriot is one who serves the community in which they live.”

Also in Houston, he headlined an evening fund-raiser for Gov. Rick Perry and the state Republican Party that was expected to raise about $2 million.

Bush is spending the weekend at his Texas ranch, near Crawford.