Mark Kennedy: “over 200 years ago, at the end of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a curious woman asked Benjamin…”

“over 200 years ago, at the end of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a curious woman asked Benjamin Franklin, ``Sir, what have you given us?'' He replied, ``A republic, if you can keep it.'' That is our challenge today. A couple of things that are vital to maintaining, to help that republic, include the active involvement of our citizens in our government and the active community service of others, reaching out to others in their communities. No one understands this better than a man named Melvin Jones who I would like to honor here today, the club he started, the Lions Club, as well as a program that the Lions Club are undertaking called Liberty Day. This man, Melvin Jones, is a living example of what it means to be a community servant. As he went out and founded the world's largest network of community service organizations, the Lions Club International, I am proud to be a member of the Watertown, Minnesota, Lions Club.”