Happy Thanksgiving!

This seems to be the appropriate time to share information about one very peculiar American tradition, the presidential pardon of the Thanksgiving turkey.  Earlier today, President Obama pardoned  a pair 45 pound birds named "Liberty" and "Peace."  They were chosen from a group of 30 turkeys raised by student members of the Future Farmers of America in Willmar, Minnesota.  After the ceremony, the pair were retired to George Washington's historic home in Mt. Vernon, Virginia.

I couldn't resist adding this clip from The West Wing, just for fun.  All in all, Martin Sheen's President Bartlet does a pretty good jump of summing up the unique event.  

For more information Thanksgiving, as well as the actual presidential turkey, try the following resources:

• 10 Thanksgiving Myths Dispelled
• Comparing Stories of the First Thanksgiving (New York Times)
• The Definitive History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon (White House)
• First Thanksgiving (Scholastic)
• The History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon (CBS News)​
• Presidential Pardon (Infoplease)
• The Year We Had Two Thanksgivings (Library of Congress)