Thanksgiving has its official Pardoned turkeys

Two 19-week-old and 45 pound turkeys will receive president’s Barack Obama pardon this Wednesday, as part of a traditional Thanksgiving rite. The names given to the birds, Liberty and Peace, were chosen from a subscription which had more than 100 suggestions. The rite when Obama will pardon the turkeys is an annual event, which is believed to have started with President Harry Truman.

Competitive Selection

The golden turkeys come from Minnesota, a city that could lead to a debate about whether the political situation of the region had an influence on the choice for such birds. However, some defend that the reason for choosing turkeys raised in Minnesota is that it is the state which produces the animal in larger quantity.

Apart from the great amount of ideas for their names, Liberty and Peace also had to compete with other turkeys to be chosen. At first, there were 30 birds that could become the official Thanksgiving symbols. Even between the last two turkeys, Liberty is the official national Thanksgiving turkey, while Peace is its alternate. All of the candidates were raised in Willmar, Minn.

Official Destiny

The story about how the tradition of the pardoned bird became a rite is still a mystery, even with those who believe that it started with President Truman. The official library that tells the president’s story has no record of the Thanksgiving pardon. Historical documents prove that the tradition was institutionalized in 1989, and from that moment on the pardoned bird was sent to a farm where it would live for the rest of its life.

As from 2005 until 2009, the pardoned turkey was sent to Disneyland or Disney World and was part of the parade specially produced for the Thanksgiving holiday. From now on, Liberty and Peace will be at the historic home of George Washington and are expected to endure with the fame and attention during “Christmas at Mount Vernon”. It is well known that the pardoned birds are larger than the country’s average.