Who Bush wanted around him

When President Bush delivered his farewell speech to the nation Thursday evening from the East Room of the White House, he invited an interesting corps of American public servants to attend. People he’s met over the years of his presidency.

As the White House Press Office memo says…

These individuals have demonstrated great acts of courage and compassion and have inspired the President.

Here’s a partial backgrounder on some of them:

Bob Beckwith, Retired Firefighter, FDNY (Baldwin, New York)
Bob Beckwith is a retired FDNY firefighter who met President Bush on September 14, 2001, at Ground Zero in New York City.  Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and despite being retired, Mr. Beckwith went to Ground Zero to aid fellow firemen and rescue personnel to search for survivors amongst the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Zach Bonner, Recipient, Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Valrico, Florida)
Zach Bonner is the creator of the Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc.  Following Hurricane Charley in 2004, Zach collected supplies for families affected by the storm, and his grassroots effort resulted in the donation of 27 truckloads of supplies for families in need.  After Hurricane Katrina, Bonner organized a toy drive and delivered the gifts to children in hurricane-stricken regions.  In 2005, at age eight, Bonner created the Little Red Wagon Foundation as a non-profit organization to provide opportunities for kids to help other kids in need.

Thomas Boyd, Graduate, Jericho Program (Baltimore, Maryland)
Thomas Boyd is a graduate of the Jericho Program, which is a program sponsored by the Episcopal Community Services of Maryland, a non-profit, faith-based organization.  With funding from the Department of Labor, the program helps men rebuild their lives and return to positive productive roles.  Before entering the Jericho Program, Mr. Boyd spent 20 years of his life using drugs and in and out of jail.  It was not until his daughter spoke to him about her concerns for him that he sought the help of this faith-based organization.

Keela Carr, Recipient, Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Apopka, Florida)
In 2007, Keela Carr visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and was profoundly affected by the service members’ sacrifice on behalf of all Americans.  In an effort to honor all soldiers and veterans and thank them personally, Carr decided to walk across the United States in what she called her Journey of a Thousand Thanks.  Carr began in Barstow, California, on May 26, 2008, and walked nearly 2,700 miles before completing her journey at Arlington National Cemetery on August 8, 2008.

Connie Duckworth, President and Founder, Arzu (Lake Forest, Illinois)
Connie Duckworth is the President and Founder of Arzu, which is a social entrepreneurship not-for-profit venture.  Arzu focuses on designing, producing, and selling rugs hand-woven by Afghan women to support education, health care and community-building projects in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Neil Duncan, USA (Maple Grove, Minnesota)
Army Sergeant Neil Duncan was severely injured in Afghanistan on December 5, 2005, when an improvised explosive device (IED) ripped through his HMMWV.  Neil was seriously wounded as a result of the explosion, and he lost both of his legs, shattered his jaw, broke his elbow and hand, and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds.  President Bush met Sergeant Duncan at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on July 24, 2006. On July 25, 2007, Sergeant Duncan visited the President in the Oval Office and ran with him on the South Lawn.

Mike Gottfried, Founder and CEO, Team Focus (Mobile, Alabama)
Mike Gottfried is the Founder and CEO of Team Focus, which helps fatherless boys age 9-17 by providing them with leadership skills, guidance, and an ongoing relationship with a mentor through summer camps and other events.

Lieutenant Eric Greitens, U.S. Navy Reserve; Recipient,
President’s Volunteer Service Award (St. Louis, Missouri)
Lieutenant Eric Greitens serves as a United States Navy SEAL and has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Southeast Asia.  After returning to the United States from Iraq in April 2007, Lieutenant Greitens used his combat pay to help start the Center for Citizen Leadership.  The program helps wounded soldiers pursue careers in public service through a fellowship program called The Mission Continues.

Shannon Hickey, Recipient, Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
At the age of 11, Shannon Hickey started a non-profit organization to further the legacy of her favorite priest, Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain for the New York Fire Department who was killed on September 11, 2001, when he was hit by debris from the World Trade Center.  Mychal’s Message is dedicated to continuing the work of Father Judge by meeting the needs of the homeless and sharing his message of unconditional love with others.

And that’s just for starters…