FORT HOOD, Tex., March 27 -- President Bush attended an Easter service here Sunday, offering prayers for peace and the well-being of American soldiers and their families.
For a third straight year, the president made the 50-mile helicopter flight from his ranch in Crawford to mark Christianity's highest holiday at the largest active-duty armored post in the military and a base that has contributed thousands of troops to the U.S. force in Iraq.
"I want to wish all the fellow citizens and their families a happy Easter," Bush said after the service. "We prayed for peace, we prayed for our soldiers and their families. It's an honor to be here at Fort Hood to celebrate Easter with those who wear the nation's uniform."
Bush and his family worshiped at the 4th Infantry Division Memorial Chapel along with several hundred others, some of whom wore Army fatigues and other uniforms. The first family occupied the entire right front pew. Joining the president were his parents, wife and twin daughters.
There was no fanfare for the first family during the service, other than a brief recognition at the beginning. One of the pastors thanked the president's mother for getting him out of bed early for the Easter service and said it was a good habit. "He may go somewhere one of these days," the pastor said to laughter from the congregation.
The president and his family then returned to the ranch for the day.
Bush was scheduled to return to Washington on Monday, but did not plan to be back at the White House in time for Monday's traditional Easter egg roll on the South Lawn. His plans for the week include a speech on freedom and democracy Tuesday in the Rose Garden and a trip to Iowa on Wednesday to promote personal accounts for Social Security.
Earlier Sunday, the top U.S. military officer in the Middle East spoke of hopeful developments in Iraq and their effect on the number of U.S. troops in the country.
"I think that we've gone from a primarily military environment, to a primarily political one. And that's a very encouraging sign," Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, head of U.S. Central Command, told CNN's "Late Edition."
Military leaders have said that the 15,000 or so U.S. troops added during the run-up to Iraq's elections in January would be gone by the end of March. That would leave the U.S. force at about 138,000 troops.
