Against The Grain

Thursday, November 27, 2003

From the Whitehouse:

President Bush pardoned a Thanksgiving turkey in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House.

This year marks the 55th consecutive pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey. This event began during the Civil War when Tad Lincoln asked his father to spare a turkey named Jack from a holiday meal. President Abraham Lincoln obliged his son and pardoned the fortunate turkey. Years later in 1947, President Harry Truman pardoned the first National Thanksgiving Turkey.

Every year, the National Turkey Federation has raised a turkey to participate in the ceremony at the White House. This year's National Thanksgiving Turkey is a female and her name is Katie.

Special care and attention has been given from the first day the turkey was hatched, with increased personal interaction helping acclimate the bird for the crowds at the pardoning ceremony. The turkey will live out her remaining years at the Frying Pan Park's Kidwell Farm, a petting farm for children in Herndon, Virginia.

Full Transcript of this year's Pardoning
Photographs of past Presidential Pardonings, beginning w/ President Truman
President's annual Thanksgiving Message

Thank you for my beautiful and loving wife who kindly puts up with me; our two kitties; being employed (and by virtue of such, food on the table and a roof over our heads); my parish (staffed by faithful priests whose love for the Church makes it a pleasure to attend); the fact that my city, state and country has not experienced a terrorist incident this year . . . and, last but not least, to all of you bloggers (and St. Blog's in particular), and those who read them, for the lively and stimulating conversations which have contributed to my ongoing education in the Catholic faith. Very much appreciated!