America's small business entrepreneurs are risk-takers, venturing into new and often uncertain territory.

I thank these hardworking citizens across the country for helping to keep the American Dream alive.

Through much of this period, small businesses generated most of the Nation's new jobs.

Growing numbers of women and minorities are empowering themselves through small business ownership.

We owe it to the children of this country to make sure that every one of them has the best possible education.

Today, 90 percent of the children in that remote village graduate from high school.

Nothing we do in government will matter at all unless there are people like the teachers who are being honored here today.

It is that spirit which we honor today.

The simple desire to fulfill the promise of American life.

Each act of service pulls us together and pushes us forward.

That is the real America, and no matter what else happens, we should never forget it.

At a time when the American people are working harder and longer than they have been in the last 10 years at their own jobs, they still find time to volunteer to help others.

On this Freedom Day, April 27, I congratulate the people of South Africa on their progress and courage.

Large or small, our communities have never been built with bricks and mortar alone.

Americans were united in a spirit of service.

They gain when we give.

They show us once again that altruism will always triumph over the forces of divisiveness.

AmeriCorps efforts go hand in hand with the voluntarism we celebrate today.