For Immediate Release
October 14, 2003

General Wesley Clark Calls Americans to Unique Service

General Wesley Clark will announce Tuesday a bold new initiative to allow Americans to serve their country in times of crisis. In the first of four speeches on Clark's vision for New American Patriotism, he proposes a Civilian Reserve. In the next three weeks, Clark will make more major speeches highlighting the economy, health care, and national security.

Clark will unveil his plan in New York City. The Civilian Reserve will focus on rekindling the spirit of volunteerism that poured out of Americans following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

"In the face of new and growing challenges, we need to call on a New American Patriotism - from our leaders and our citizens," Clark will tell the crowd at Hunter College. "A New American Patriotism calls on leadership that will make the right choices for all of our people; it calls for an administration that unites our country and works with the world community, and it calls all Americans to action in order to make the commitments and sacrifices to meet these historic challenges."

The Civilian Reserve would allow Americans to register to contribute their unique talents and gifts. In the event of an emergency, those needed would be called on to help. This would create a safety net of skilled Americans who are willing to help in times of trouble without an added bureaucracy.

"Today, America faces serious challenges," Clark will say. "Our country has endured the deadliest external attack in its history. We feel our security threatened here at home for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis. America has lost over three million jobs for the first time since Herbert Hoover."

Clark will speak at 2 p.m. at Hunter College in New York City.