2013 National Day of Service; DOT turns out in force

This morning, I want to thank the millions of Americans who turned out last Saturday for the 2013 Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service.

Just as yesterday's Presidential Inauguration is a testament to our enduring democracy, the commitment to service demonstrated over the weekend is a testament to the enduring values of our people.  As President Obama has said, “America has never been about what can be done for us; it's about what can be done by us together.”

I also want to thank, in particular, the great folks here at DOT and their families for volunteering their time and energy to service projects in the DC area and across the country.

Whether it was cutting back invasive plants with the Rock Creek Conservancy as many of us did--including Will Farber, who at just 1 month old was DOT's youngest volunteer--or putting together care packages for American servicemen and women in Afghanistan--as Deputy St. Lawrence Seaway Administrator Craig Middlebrook and his son Henry did--the DOT team has made me proud yet again.

Further north, many of the midshipmen from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy took part in a clean-up at Jones Beach State Park organized by For The Shore as part of the continued response to Hurricane Sandy.

Also on Saturday's Day of Service, Deputy Secretary John Porcari and I had a chance to spend
some time with DOT safety champions Vince and Larry

You know, I think of what the DOT family does every day as a form of service. Of course, working on behalf of the American people is a professional experience, but the collective goal the thousands of us work toward is not a bigger quarterly dividend, but a better, safer, more economically competitive nation.

So, to see DOTers turn out in force for an extra Day of Service is very gratifying. Thank you, DOT, and thank you, everyone who came out in some form on Saturday. We are, as the President says, better together.