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President Biden participated in a traditional ceremony where he officially spared two turkeys from being slaughtered for Thanksgiving. Despite the political context, he took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the American people for allowing him to serve as president one last time.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the leader of the country. He mentioned that over the past four years, he has pardoned several pairs of turkeys, and this year, Peach and Blossom are the lucky ones to be pardoned based on their behavior and contributions to society. Biden also reflected on the significance of the event as the start of the holiday season in Washington and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president.
Authored by Zach Montague
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President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday 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, only a few jokes and witty remarks were made to acknowledge Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, who were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which also happen to be the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud sounds were captured by the microphone, frequently 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 that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He was wearing his usual aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his time in office.
The president shifted his tone to a more somber one to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signified the conclusion of his presidency and potentially his decades-long career in public service.
"This is the final time I will be speaking as your president during this time, and expressing my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to express to you that it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady had plans to continue a tradition they started, which involved serving food to friends at a holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard and their families in Staten Island. During this event, President Biden took a moment to acknowledge and honor those who have lost loved ones, specifically mentioning his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we use this opportunity to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration suggests that many of the norms and traditions celebrated by Mr. Biden during his presidency may be changing. Before taking photos with Peach, he left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He mentioned that in America, perseverance is key and giving up is not an option. It is important to keep pushing forward and holding onto hope.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on news related to the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, visit his profile.
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