SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Former President George W. Bush has accepted the Rangers' invitation to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the club's home opener on Monday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Rangers owner Tom Hicks and club president Nolan Ryan invited Bush to throw out the ceremonial pitch earlier this spring, and he has confirmed his appearance. Bush, who served two terms as president, will be making his first appearance at the Ballpark in Arlington since he was Governor of Texas in 2000.

Bush was managing general partner of the Rangers from 1989-94 as the head of an ownership group that bought the team from Eddie Chiles 20 years ago. The group sold the club to Hicks in 1998.

This will be the third time that a United States president has participated in the first-pitch ceremony at the Rangers' home opener. While in office, President Gerald Ford did the honors on April 9, 1976, and President George H.W. Bush took part on April 8, 1991.

George W. Bush also threw out the first pitch on April 3, 2000.

It will be the 23rd consecutive year that the Rangers have honored "Texas Heroes" as part of their Opening Day ceremonies.

The United States Army 4th Infantry Division Band from Fort Hood will perform during the pregame ceremonies and will also play the Star Spangled Banner. A 100-by-300-foot American flag, carried by members of Fort Hood's 4th Infantry Division, will be unfurled in the outfield, and a military flyover will take place.

The 4th Infantry Division has recently returned to the United States from a 15-month deployment to Iraq. Last May 17, the Rangers hosted more than 750 family members of the 4th Infantry troops at Rangers Ballpark for a game against the Astros.

The Commanding General of the 4th Infantry is Major General Jeffery Hammond, who will participate on the on-field ceremonies on Opening Day.