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CRAWFORD -- It may have been the greatest wedding those in Crawford never saw.
Just seven miles outside town -- past the Secret Service, the roadblocks and the gates -- first daughter Jenna Bush and fiance Henry Hager stood by a lake, in front of a Texas limestone cross and altar, and took their vows.A historic moment, as Jenna Bush became the 22nd daughter of a president to take vows while her father was in office.While most Texans weren't among the approximately 200 invited to the private ceremony, many wanted to get as close as possible to it."Even though you can't see it, you can breathe the same air they are breathing," said Mary Wood, who drove from San Antonio to spend the day here. "I just had to be here to say I was here for it."Hundreds of others felt the same way, crowding into this one-traffic-light town with a population of about 700. On a typical Saturday, one vehicle might pass through the main intersection every few hours. This Saturday saw a stream of traffic, with visitors pouring into the two souvenir shops and filling up the coffee shop.Texas 'royalty'"It's like our royalty in Texas is getting married," said Stacy Wallace, a Temple woman who originally hails from Fort Worth. "I've been wanting to come by for some time, and I thought [Saturday] was the perfect day to do it."The first family's wedding festivities began Friday with a lunch and rehearsal dinner in Salado.Around 7 p.m. Saturday, five Coach America buses believed to carry wedding guests drove through Crawford, to the applause and cheers of a few spectators.The ceremony began a half-hour or so before sunset. The couple stood at a cross, made of beige Texas limestone, that was erected near the ranch's man-made lake. The cross and altar, made of the same stone used to build the Bushes' ranch house, will be a landmark at the ranch for years. The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston officiated.In Crawford, a banner celebrating the wedding was stretched in front of the Red Bull souvenir shop; a marquee down the street offered congratulations as well.Visitors posed for pictures in front of the Angel of Steadfast Love, a metal sculpture given to the city after President Bush's re-election in 2004, which was dressed in a white veil and carried a bouquet of white flowers.Souvenir shops ran out of mugs, key chains, mouse pads and other wedding memorabilia, with many having to take special orders for the merchandise."We sold out Friday," said Jaime Burgess, manager of Red Bull, who served wedding cake and cookies made from first lady Laura Bush's own recipe to shoppers. "It's great. It shows how much people do support Jenna and Henry."And Jenna's dad, the president.Many visitors said they are big Bush supporters and wanted to be there for him."President Bush is a good person, and he loves his country," said Deborah Miller of Grand Prairie. "We don't like all his ideas, but we'd do anything for him."Not all the visitors are fans.
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