President Biden pardoned two Minnesota turkeys on Monday, according to the annual White House turkey forgiveness tradition,
This was Mr Biden's final pardon as president, before the president-elect donald trump The task of maintaining the tradition has been entrusted. This year's Turkey, Peaches and Blossoms is named after the Delaware state flower, the peach blossom, which symbolizes resiliency, Mr. Biden said. The President joked that the more than 2,000 people gathered at the event were asking for forgiveness because there were less than two months left in his term.
“Today, Peach and Blossom will join the free birds of the United States of America,” Mr. Biden told the crowd on the White House South Lawn, with turkeys pecking occasionally in the background.
“Based on your nature and commitment to being productive members of society, I pardon Peach and Blossom!” he declared.
In the days before the spotlight, the turkeys stayed in a luxurious suite at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel near the White House, a tradition for turkeys as they await their fate.
John Zimmerman, this year's president of the National Turkey Federation, raises more than 100,000 turkeys each year, and he said he chose two of the best.
“We want them to be prepared for the spotlight, we want them to get used to the lights, the noise and everything that comes with being in D.C.,” he told CBS Minnesota. “We expose them to different noises, lights. All kinds of music from hard rock to polka to Prince.”
Both turkeys will go to the FarmAmerica:MN Agricultural Interpretive Center in Waseca, Minnesota, to spend the rest of their days in peace, away from anyone's Thanksgiving table.
last yearMr. Biden excused “Liberty” and “Bell,” joking that he has a new appreciation for the words “‘Let Freedom Ring’.”