2 Bushes for the price of 1 at Woodward, Okla.

July 06, 2009 10:11 am

— WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) — The hazards that American patriots risked to win this country's independence from England have drawn praise from a later leader, former President George W. Bush.

"They did the right thing even when it was hard," Bush said Saturday. "They did the brave thing even when it was risky."

Bush was the featured speaker of a two-day celebration of improvements at Crystal Beach Park and the park's 80th anniversary, as well as the Fourth of July holiday. To the surprise of many in the crowd, the former president brought his wife, Laura Bush, along.

"Freedom is beautiful; freedom is precious; freedom must always be defended," Bush told the audience. He said it was important to respond militarily after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. by those spreading what he called "their ideology of hate."