Fort Bragg Officials Prepare For President Bush's Visit

Officials said the president would leave Washington, D.C., that morning, spend the middle of the day on post and return to the nation's capital. The White House still isn't discussing his schedule. That's typical for security reasons.

"It's always nice being recognized," said Staff Sergeant Tasha Bolden. "He knows what we do."

It will be Bush's third trip to Fort Bragg since September 11, 2001. He came in 2002 and talked about the war in Afghanistan, and returned to the post in 2005 and spoke in prime time to address mounting criticism of the war.

Local Republicans aren't surprised he's coming back. After all, Fort Bragg continues to play a big role in the war: the post is growing because of base re-alignment, and the area is a conservative stronghold.

"I think it's exciting," said former North Carolina Young Republicans chairman Bobby Hurst. "I don't think it's political. I think it's sincere."

"Just absolutely tremendous," said former Cumberland County GOP chairman George Quigley. "We really appreciate his interest in our community and our soldiers."