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Biden, nearing the end of his presidency, pardoned turkeys in a traditional ceremony. Despite the political context, he took the chance to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys, Peach and Blossom, in a traditional White House ceremony. He expressed gratitude for being the commander in chief and continuing the tradition of pardoning turkeys during his presidency. Biden mentioned that it was his last time speaking as president during the holiday season and expressed his thanks and gratitude to the American people. He emphasized the significance of the event marking the start of the holiday season in Washington. Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society. He closed by saying it had been the honor of his life and that he was forever grateful.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
President Biden made an appearance that lasted eight minutes on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During the brief speech, only a few jokes and funny remarks were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two 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.
During the event, 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," stated the president.
At the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Biden shared with the audience his motto of staying calm and enjoying the moment as he listed the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office, all while wearing his recognizable aviator sunglasses.
The president changed his tone to a more solemn one to recognize the emotional truth that the holidays were signaling the final chapter of his presidency and potentially his retirement from public service after over five decades.
"This will be my final opportunity to address you as your president during this time and express my appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to tell you that serving as president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am thankful for the experience."
On Monday, the president and 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 this event, President Biden took a moment to honor those who have lost loved ones, including his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we should 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 potential changes to the norms and traditions celebrated by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and never lose hope. We continue to move forward and remain steadfast in our beliefs.
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, visit his page.
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