Husband and five sons sent to Iraq – “you couldn't ask for a better way”

President Bush on Wednesday praised an Idaho woman whose husband and five sons were sent to Iraq, saying she's an example of how military families really feel about the war.

Tammy Pruett screamed when Bush mentioned her and her family to a receptive crowd of more than 5,000 — most of them Idaho National Guard personnel and their families, Houston Chronicle reports.

Pruett's husband, Leon, and sons, Eric, Evan, Greg, Jeff and Eren, have all served in Iraq.

"Tammy says this ... 'I know if something happens to one of the boys, they would leave this world doing what they believe, what they think is right for our country,' " Bush said. "And I guess you couldn't ask for a better way of life than giving it for something that you believe in. America lives in freedom because of families like the Pruetts."

After his speech, he met with 19 families who had lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush quoted Matt Salisbury, a specialist in Idaho's Army National Guard who talked of helping an Iraqi family to the polls during the nation's first democratic election in January.

"How can I possibly describe the return of hope and dignity that I saw in these people's eyes?" Bush quoted Salisbury as saying. "It is worth the sacrifice of leaving families, jobs and a safe life."