On Thursday, January 27, 2005, I met President George W. Bush at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. I was there to welcome him as he arrived aboard Air Force One for a visit to Cleveland.

The invitation came together in just a few days. Local volunteer organizations were asked to submit nominations on Monday, I was interviewed on Tuesday, and I learned on Wednesday that I had been selected. By Thursday, I was standing at the bottom of the stairs from Air Force One, waiting to meet the President.

After greeting Ohio officials, President Bush shook my hand, thanked me for my volunteer service, and presented me with an award pin. White House photographer Paul Morse captured the moment in the photograph above.

At the time, I served as chief of the Northeast Ohio Medical Reserve Corps and was a certified emergency medical technician. I volunteered between 800 and 1,000 hours each year, helping with event planning, logistics, amateur radio communications, and first aid at charitable events throughout Northeast Ohio. Our work also included supporting local fire departments and emergency medical services during emergencies affecting public health.

My involvement in public service began through amateur radio. Providing communications at community events led me to pursue emergency medical training so I could help with medical care as well. That work grew to include volunteering with the American Red Cross from 1992 to 1997 and serving eight years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Northfield Center Fire Department.

After the airport greeting, I traveled in the presidential motorcade to the Cleveland Clinic, where President Bush spoke about health care information technology and electronic medical records. During his remarks, he acknowledged me in the audience and spoke about my volunteer work. He closed that acknowledgment by saying, “I thank you for the example you’ve set, TJ. I appreciate you coming.”

Meeting the President and joining the motorcade was an overwhelming experience, and I felt very honored. Helping my community had already given me a great deal of satisfaction; receiving this recognition added something special to that work.

News Coverage and Official Records

The links below preserve the official announcements, the White House transcript, and news coverage of the award and President Bush’s Cleveland visit.

• The Transcript of the discussion at the Cleveland Clinic issued from the White House
• The official press release issued from the White House can be found
• Medical Reserve Corps Announcement
• News Leader (Feb 02, 2005)
• News Leader Bush pushes modernization of medical field while in Cleveland (Feb 02, 2005)
• Nordonia Hills Sun (Feb 03, 2005)
• NorthSummit7 (Jan 28, 2005)
• CLEVELAND.COM – Bush talks technology during stop at Clinic (Jan 28, 2005)
• fox.com – Bush Pushes Computerized Medical Records (Jan 28, 2005)
• NewsNet5.com – President Says Electronic Medical Records Will Cut Costs (Jan 27, 2005)
• ohio.com – President promotes medical technology at Cleveland Clinic (Jan 28, 2005)
• ohio.com – Bush will honor Northfield volunteer (Jan 27, 2005)
• arrl.org – Ohio amateur receives President’s Volunteer Service Award (Feb 01, 2005)
• Ohio Department of Transportation Employee Newsletter