Earlier this year, Congress designated September 11 as a "National Day of Service and Remembrance" to honor 9/11 victims and their families. As we commemorate the anniversary of the horrific attacks on our Nation eight years ago, at the same time, we can look to our country's future by volunteering our skills and talents.

I had the chance to read to first-graders at Carver Magnet Elementary School in Little Rock. My wife, Ginger, read to students at Jefferson Elementary. These visits with students marked the culmination of "Together We Read," a call to service Ginger has been promoting around the State this summer. Our goal today was to place volunteer readers in every elementary school in Arkansas. As Ginger and I joined other volunteers in taking the time to share reading with our state's children, we hoped to set an example of the critical role literacy has in our lives.

Literacy is fundamental to all facets of life, yet there are millions of adults who lack the skills necessary to succeed in our society. According to the U.S. Census, almost a quarter of Arkansas residents have not completed high school, and of those, 35 percent have less than an eighth-grade education.

As we fight to improve education and literacy rates in our State, we must target both children and adult populations. We have to break the intergeneration cycle of illiteracy and poverty that prevents so many from achieving their goals. Literacy is the key to success and enlightenment, facilitating personal growth, independence, and academic enrichment. By identifying low-literacy problems and creating unique interest-generating events that promote literacy, we can expose children to positive literacy role models and provide an avenue through which we can build a better tomorrow.

A national commitment to service begins in our neighborhoods, in our hospitals, churches and schools. It begins with individuals taking time out of busy schedules to reach out and help others. Arkansans are well known for their generous spirits and willingness to give unselfishly of themselves whenever the need arises.

As we demonstrate the value of service to our children, they will grow up with volunteerism and national service as an everyday occurrence. I applaud the contributions so many Arkansans make to our state every day, and I urge you to contribute your time and energy in assisting others through community service on this day and throughout the year.