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Biden granted clemency to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political views, the president expressed gratitude to the country during the light-hearted event for allowing him to serve.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for serving as commander in chief. He mentioned that over the past four years, he has pardoned several pairs of turkeys, such as Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell. This year, Peach and Blossom are the lucky ones to join the free birds of the United States. The decision to pardon them was based on their behavior and commitment to being productive members of society. President Biden also mentioned that this event signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Washington, and it is his last time speaking as president during this season. He thanked everyone for the honor and expressed his eternal gratitude.
Authored by Zach Montague
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President Biden made an appearance that lasted eight minutes on Monday to grant pardons to two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the longstanding 77-year-old tradition and took a brief moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During the brief speech, a few jokes and remarks were made to honor two large birds named Peach and Blossom, weighing over 40 pounds each. These birds were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, a turkey 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," stated the president.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House his motto of "keep calm and gobble on", while wearing his famous aviator sunglasses and mentioning the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his time in office.
The president shifted to a more somber tone to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holidays signaled the final stretch of his time as president, and potentially the end of his career in public service spanning over half a century.
"I am also giving my final speech as your president during this time, expressing my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden mentioned. "I want to tell you that it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and the first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering with friends. This year, they celebrated with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During the event, President Biden took a moment to acknowledge those who have experienced the loss of family members, specifically honoring his late son Beau, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested using this moment to pause from our hectic schedules and concentrate on the most important thing in our lives: our families.
Ignoring the doubt surrounding Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration hinted at a possible disruption of the norms and traditions that President Biden cherished. Despite this, Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with attendees at the ceremony before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is essential and giving up is not an option. The belief in continuing on and maintaining faith is ingrained in the American spirit.
Zach Montague is a journalist from the Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, click on the provided link.
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