As representative of an organization dedicated to service, we look ahead with great enthusiasm to the national celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The nation’s founding document concludes ‘We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor”. Our organization, and the staff, volunteers and supporters who make our work possible, know first hand that service is the cornerstone of our national character and is essential to our democracy. Service is what unites us, reminding us all to respect differences and transcend divisions for the greater good. In recognition of all the many ways there are to serve, and in honor of all those who have served the past or are serving today, we pledge over the next two years and beyond, to prominently and publicly tell the stories of those who serve and invite all Americans to participate. It is that spirit of service, we believe, that will ensure our nation continues to thrive and will be a model for the world for the next 250 years and beyond.

We commit to...