Good evening.

Welcome, all of you, to this very special evening.

What a night this is for Atlanta — a night to pay tribute to an enduring light: the life and legacy of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

A night to honor who they are and what they have done — as citizens and leaders — of our city, our state, our country and our world.

Yet even as we gather to honor their enduring commitment to peace, we must acknowledge the painful developments taking place in our world tonight. Our hearts are heavy with concern — both for the men and women who serve our country, and for the innocent men, women and children whose lives could be shattered or lost, through no fault of their own.

Will you join me in a moment of silence to reflect on our hope for the prospect of enduring peace in our world?

Thank you.

I am so honored to be with you this evening.

Look around you.

The dignitaries, business leaders, friends and family gathered here signify the respect — and the love — we have for President and Mrs. Carter.

On behalf of Stephanie and myself, Doug and Delphine Daft and our distinguished Host Committee, thank you all for joining us tonight.

We have many special guests here tonight and not enough time to recognize all of them. Unfortunately our Governor, the Honorable Sonny Perdue, is unable to be here, as he was called away an hour ago to a vital Homeland Security meeting. Would you please honor our governor with a round of applause?

We do have with us tonight our dynamic and dedicated Mayor, Shirley Franklin. Please join me in thanking her for all she does for our city.

A special thanks to the Woodruff Arts Center and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for hosting this celebration.

And, we thank the children of the HARMONY chorus, for opening our evening in such a special and moving way.

Watching and listening to these young people tonight, we should all be reminded that the future is really about the children of the world — and our responsibility to nurture and instill values — to create harmony, or in the words of tonight's theme, to create an enduring light.

That enduring light shines in Atlanta tonight.

It's the light that reflects outward from the life and example of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

It's a light that the darkness of gathering storms in our world can never put out.

I have known the Carters as business colleagues and friends for more than 20 years.

I'm honored to serve as a Carter Center trustee, feeling blessed that my Family Foundation can support — in some small way — the Center's courageous work for peace, justice and democracy.

I've attended President Carter's town hall meetings at Emory University, hammered nails side-by-side with him on a Habitat for Humanity house, teamed with him on Outward Bound adventures, and even offered some home improvement coaching support at Home Depot, along with Stephanie.

What a positive and rewarding experience it has been.

Jimmy and Rosalynn, seeing up-close your life's work through the years, is to see a bright light — a light for the rest of us to follow.

You shine an enduring light on the path of service to others.

The work the Carters have chosen is, quite literally, a commitment to be their "brother's keeper."

As partners, they work together for peace and justice — for the health, well-being, and freedom of all — including, and perhaps most especially, the poor and the powerless.

Jimmy Carter is a man who has known power. He has served as the chief executive both of his state and his country.

But his receipt of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize speaks to his true power — the power of his servant leadership. More than anyone I know, Jimmy Carter is about serving others before himself.

At a time when many in positions of power seem to have forgotten the principle of serving those they lead, Jimmy Carter stands as THE example of what true leadership should be.

When he began his political career here in Georgia, his honesty and integrity drew many disenchanted young people back into our democratic system.

As Governor of Georgia, he was a tireless champion for doing the right thing — supporting Civil Rights, improving race relations, reforming education, and protecting the environment.

Always, his focus was on empowering the people he served.

As president of our country, he was, in many ways, ahead of his time.

No president since Theodore Roosevelt has done more for the environment. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area we enjoy today is part of his legacy.

What kind of country, what kind of world would we be living in today if we had continued his plans for fuel conservation and the development of alternate energy sources?

These are just a few examples of Jimmy Carter's visionary leadership.

When he left the White House, Jimmy Carter's vision and passion for servant leadership made him the most effective former U.S. president in history.

Together with Rosalynn, his life partner in all respects, he has for two decades promoted peace, democracy and the resolution of conflict around the world.

Understanding the direct connection between poverty and poor public health, Jimmy and Rosalynn also expanded the mission of the Carter Center — to tame the ravages of disease, and to bring help to people who had lost hope.

All the people, all the children of our world, have been blessed by their work.

I have been blessed to know them as a friend.

Success has never changed who they are. Despite their busy lives, the Carters continue to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, spending one week — every year — building houses in the U.S.and abroad.

Jimmy, never have I met anyone who so truly understands the meaning of the word "neighbor."

There can be no greater tribute to you than for each of us to commit tonight that we will strive to learn what it means to be neighbors, even as dark events threaten to crowd out the light in our world.

We are called to be our brother's keeper.

We draw inspiration and hope from the humanity of men and women of the light —

Men and women who work for justice —

Men and women like Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

They teach us that the ultimate reward of life is found in service to others, in shining our own light to serve — wherever we can, and whatever the cost.

Thank you.