MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – President Bush used his annual Independence Day speech to pay homage to America’s armed forces and urge the nation to remain firmly behind the effort in Iraq.

At West Virginia University, he acknowledged that continued violence in Iraq has been “hard for a compassionate nation to watch.” But he compared today’s hardships to those faced by Americans of past generations, including those who declared independence and fought the Revolutionary War 229 years ago.

“From our desperate fight for independence to the darkest days of a civil war, to the hard-fought battles of the 20th century, there were many chances to lose our heart, our nerve or our way,” he said. “But Americans have always held firm, because we have always believed in certain truths: We know that the freedom we defend is meant for all men and women, and for all times,” he said.

Bush spoke to an outdoor audience of about 2,000 people – restricted to ticket-holders. Outside the flag-and-bunting-draped event area, a knot of protesters gathered, carrying signs reading “Bush Lied” and chanting “We support our troops, not the president” and “Peace is patriotic.”