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President Biden pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political views, he took the opportunity during the light-hearted ceremony to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the leader of the country. He mentioned that in the past four years, he had pardoned other pairs of turkeys, and this year, Peach and Blossom were the lucky ones to receive clemency. The event also marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and Biden’s last time speaking as president during this time. He thanked the audience and said it had been an honor to serve as president.
Written by Zach Montague
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On Monday, President Biden made an eight-minute appearance to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During the brief speech, a few jokes and witty remarks were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud noises could be heard on the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," remarked the president.
"Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is ‘stay calm and keep eating’," as he wore his famous aviator sunglasses and listed the names of the turkeys he saved from being eaten over the course of four years.
The president shifted to a more somber mood to recognize the sad truth that the holiday season signaled the final chapter of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be my final speech as your president during this time, and I want to express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to tell you that serving as president has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady had plans to continue a tradition by serving food to friends celebrating the holiday together. This year, they celebrated with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During this event, President Biden took a moment to acknowledge those who have endured the loss of family members, honoring his late son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we take advantage of this moment to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at significant changes to the norms and traditions often praised by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden left those at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key and giving up is never an option. It is important to continue moving forward and hold onto hope.
Zach Montague works as a reporter for the Times, focusing on topics such as the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. For further information about Zach Montague, click here.
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