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CNN Live Today

President Bush Honors Veterans on Holiday

Aired July 04, 2002 - 12:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is heading back to the White House this hour from the small town of Ripley, West Virginia. The president spent the morning in West Virginia, leading Fourth of July celebrations there and saluting veterans. CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace has more on President Bush's trip. Hi there, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. President Bush should, in fact, be arriving back at the White House just minutes from now. His message on this day, he says Americans always love their country but he said they love it even more when it is threatened.

The president arriving back at Andrews Air Force Base just a few minutes ago, again en route right now to the White House. He will have a quiet day here before enjoying the fireworks from the balcony here at the White House.

As you have been saying, it is a day of unprecedented security, and perhaps an unprecedented landing of Marine One. Mr. Bush landing in the backyard of 81-year-old Naval Chapman (ph). And White House aides said they saw Ms. Chapman mowing the lawn herself in advance of the president's visit. You see there escorting Naval Chapman (ph), giving her a kiss and a hug and an autograph and then heading to a crowd of several thousand. The president saying the U.S. in this war on terror will take the battle to the enemy. And he said on September 11th, every American was attacked.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every ethnic background is known and respected here in America. Every religious belief is practiced and protected here, yet in a moment we discovered again that we're a single people. We share the same allegiance. We live under the same flag. When you strike one American, you strike us all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And President Bush also saluting America's veterans and the members of the United States military. He also highlighted an executive order he issued yesterday. This would allow immigrants in the United States military to apply immediately for U.S. citizenship. Previously, immigrants serving in the military had to wait three years before they could become eligible for U.S. citizenship. And, Fredricka, the president saying he is doing this to reward these immigrants for their "brave service during this war on terror" -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kelly Wallace from the White House, thank you very much.

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