Tommy G. Thompson
Dear Colleagues and Fellow Citizens:
Our nation changed forever on September 11,
2001. But the thousands of volunteers who so selflessly
helped others during that national tragedy inspired us.
Many of our nation's most respected organizations
were ready to serve. And many more people asked, "What
can I do?"
President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps in
response to that outpouring of support in the days following
September 11. The President asked all Americans to
volunteer 4,000 hours of their time - about two years - to serving
The Medical Reserve Corps is one way that health
professionals can volunteer to strengthen both their communities and
their nation. Locally-based Medical Reserve Corps Units
can assist during large-scale emergencies, such as an influenza
epidemic, a chemical spill, or an act of
terrorism. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers also work to
improve the overall health and well-being of their neighborhoods and
Local officials are developing their own Medical
Reserve Corps units because local officials know best what their
individual communities need.
Working together, we are strengthening our
communities and, in turn, strengthening our nation.
Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services