Woodward, Okla. ? Former President George W. Bush was greeted by thunderous applause on the Fourth of July as he told thousands of spectators in a rural Oklahoma rodeo arena that the U.S. was “the greatest nation on the face of the earth.”

Bush was given six standing ovations as he spoke in GOP-friendly Woodward, a town of about 12,000 residents in northwest Oklahoma. About 9,200 tickets were sold for the event, which would mark 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 joked that it was nice for a “retired guy” to be given something to do.

The former president has turned up in a handful of out-of-the-way places since leaving office, and he surprised city leaders in Woodward by accepting their invitation to speak at festivities celebrating the $25 million renovation of a local park.

Woodward is friendly territory for Bush, who visited the town two decades ago while campaigning for his father’s presidential bid. Oklahoma hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, and was the only state in the 2008 election to have every county vote for Republican candidate John McCain.

A banner welcoming Bush hung from a restaurant on a highway entering Woodward. Not far down the road, marquees for an Atwoods store and a steak restaurant also bore welcoming messages.

The two-day “Let Freedom Ring 2009” event also featured performances by country artists including Tanya Tucker, Marty Stuart, Asleep at the Wheel and Sawyer Brown. Event promoter Landon Laubhan declined to say how much Bush was getting paid to speak.