Free bird: Thanksgiving turkey pardons
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Pardon in the garden
Reporters flock around Pumpkin the turkey at the White House Rose Garden in this Nov. 26, 2008 photo, waiting for President George W. Bush to issue the bird an official pardon. The Thanksgiving ceremony became a U.S. tradition more than 20 years ago this month, when Bush's father, President George H.W. Bush, pardoned the National Turkey Federation's annual gift instead of gobbling it up. This year's birds — Liberty and the alternate bird, Peace — followed tradition with a pardon from President Obama this morning after a luxurious stay at Washington's W Hotel. As the following photos show, politicians and poultry share a much longer, often bizarre, history. (Text: Russell McLendon)
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Comments
Your web site states that the Turkey Pardon has been a tradition for twenty years. WRONG! This year marks the 62nd year of this annual tradition.
Actually, skeptic, that's a common misconception. Check out the other slides in this photo gallery for more info about the tradition's true history, including the 1947 ceremony you're referring to.
What about all the other poor little birdies, which acccroding to 60 Minutes are descended from DINOSAURS???????????
60 minutes, 88% of Europeans, 60% of Americans, and around 99% of scientists.
Every year I read that Truman pardoned the first Thanksgiving...in fact, it was the exact opposite (this is from theTruman Library website):
“The library’s staff has found no documents, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs, or other contemporary records in our holdings which refer to Truman pardoning a turkey that he received as a gift in 1947, or at any other time during his presidency. Truman sometimes indicated to reporters that the turkeys he received were destined for the.... More
I've always been very dubious of these thanksgiving "pardons.' Sure, the bird sticks around for another week or so...until the cameras are gone....but doesn't he just end up on Christmas table somewhere? (and it'd be easy for them to trot out the "turkey" over & over....who's to say if its the original bird).
in any case, consider a turkey-free day this year.
After the President pardon Apple and its alternate Cider, the turkeys will be driven to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. The turkeys will spend the rest of their lives there, and are likely to receive better care at this estate. The staff at Mount Vernon cares for other turkeys and many types of animals.
This is good news, since previous turkeys were sent to Disneyland... yes, Disneyland.
Their names!
1999 - Harry
2000 - Jerry
2001 - Liberty
2002 - Katie and Zack
2003- Stars and Stripes
2004- Biscuit and Gravy
2005- Marshmallow and Yam
2006 - Flyer and Fryer
2007 - May and Flower
2008 - Pumpkin and Pecan
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