Obamas thank troops during White House barbecue

[July 05, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is noting that it's not just the nation's birthday, it's his daughter Malia's, too.

At a sun-splashed Independence Day barbeque on the White House South Lawn, the president and first lady Michele Obama thanked members of the military for their service to the nation. The Declaration of Independence was adopted 237 years ago on July 4, 1776. Malia Obama turned 15 on Thursday.

The Obamas spoke to the crowd and then spent about 10 minutes shaking hands and posing for pictures with babies dressed in red, white and blue ahead of evening fireworks on the National Mall.

The USO sponsored the event and expected about 1,200 military personnel and their families to attend. Also there were members of Obama's administration and their families.

[Associated Press; By LAURIE KELLMAN]

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