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In a farewell gesture, President Biden pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political beliefs, the president took this light-hearted event as an opportunity to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve.
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President Biden has pardoned a pair of turkeys in a White House ceremony, continuing a tradition of granting clemency to these birds. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as commander in chief and mentioned past turkeys he has pardoned. This year, Peach and Blossom have been pardoned based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society. The event also marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and President Biden’s last time speaking during this season as president. He expressed his gratitude and said it has been the honor of his life to serve as president.
Written by Zach Montague
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President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing tradition that has been happening for 77 years. He also took a moment to express gratitude to the country.
The brief speech mentioned Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, the official flower of President Biden’s home state. It included only a few jokes and humorous remarks.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often drowning out Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at the last minute.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is to stay calm and enjoy eating, as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office. He was wearing his classic aviator sunglasses while making the announcement.
The president adopted a more serious demeanor to recognize the bittersweet reality that the holiday season signaled the final chapter of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be my final time addressing you all as your president during this time of year, and expressing my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to convey to you all that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I am eternally thankful."
On Monday, the president and the first lady had plans 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, specifically mentioning 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 spending time with our loved ones.
Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration hinted at significant changes to the norms and traditions that President Biden valued. At the ceremony, President Biden delivered a simple and non-political message to attendees before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, it is important to persevere and not give up. It is essential to keep moving forward and maintain belief in oneself.
Zach Montague is a journalist for the Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. You can find out more about Zach Montague on his profile.
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