Jul 4, 7:59 AM EDT


Bush to address new citizens on 4th of July


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush will spend some time this July 4th at the home of the man who virtually wrote the Declaration of Independence. Bush plans to visit Thomas Jefferson's hilltop home, Monticello, in Charlottesville, Va. He'll taking part in Monticello's annual naturalization ceremony, addressing 76 new American citizens.

Since 1963, some 3,000 Americans have taken the oath of citizenship at Jefferson's home on the Fourth. This year, 76 men and women from 30 nations will join them.

On previous Fourths, Bush has witnessed the creation of new Americans on New York's Ellis Island and at Washington's Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Today the president will also get a tour the historic shrine overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and the University of Virginia that Jefferson founded.


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