Former President George W. Bush spoke

amid thunderous applause Woodward Oklahoma to celebrate the

Fourth of July, calling the U.S. the “greatest nation on the face

of the earth.”

Bush was given six standing ovations as he spoke Saturday inside

a remodeled rodeo arena in Woodward, a town of about 12,000

residents in northwest Oklahoma. About 9,200 tickets were sold for

the event, which would be the biggest crowd for Bush since he left

office in January.

Bush spoke of the bravery of injured soldiers he’d met

throughout his presidency, and thanked members of the military for

their service. He also thanked spectators for giving “a retired

guy something to do.”

Bush has turned up in a handful of out-of-the-way places since

leaving office.