Sept. 11 To Be 'National Day of Service'

Making National Service every Day of the Year!

As one foolish military veteran I have advocated on-and-off for 30-yeears a particular model, originally a bill in the House: HR 1730/1979, HR 2230/1981 which would have replaced the Selective Service System with a National Service System.

It’s key service-learning approach was to maintain voluntary service, but change the registration requirement to age 17, for both females and males, encourage dialogue in families, friends, and if in school, in school.

At 18 require feedback in the form of yes, no, or maybe to age 23, providing a cost-effective way of bring this debate to each new generation, and starting youth exploration of voluntary service be it community or military, and what degree and form of part-time or full-time service they are willing to sign up for.

This catalyst would provide a year-after-year framework at a cost in the low millions, but will take the public will of Congress, and the next President to make it happen.

Like so many of my efforts, Richard and Judy, choose in the Presidential Candidate Forum not to use my question for the candidates, like everybody during the last 30 years they have left me to “do it yourself”.

Service-Learning, Youth Service, Adult Volunteerism, and Retired Adult Volunteerism is all part of the mix, along with non-profits, (over 1 million), churches, local, state, and federal programs are part of the mix.

Technology is also a key element of the mix, be it communication and organizing, the cell phone and Internet will provide tremendous leverage in efficiency, and accountability, and one can dream about efforts related to increasing energy efficiency, education, macro-economic impact, and from gangs to terrorist, local, national, and international security and social development.

Peter P Jesella