Each year among fighting with loved ones, watching football, cooking a feast, and watching parades, Americans pause to watch the president of the United States spare the life of a turkey in the annual turkey pardon. We’re here to break down this intriguing custom as well as another great gesture toward our U.S. military. Suggested read:Amazon Black Friday Deals Veterans & Civilians Won’t Want to Miss

Behind the Turkey Pardon: Who Was the First President To Pardon a Turkey?

Pinpointing the first president to pardon a turkey should be a fairly simple task in the digital age; however, it’s anything but. Here’s why the turkey pardon tradition is about as clear as your Thanksgiving gravy:

• According to the White House Historical Association, President Abraham Lincoln, leader of the free world, is credited with initially pardoning the Thanksgiving Turkey after asking the White House to spare its life during Thanksgiving.
• But that same exact source also claims that pardoning the turkey came from George H. W. Bush, at least in the modern tradition we know today, a.k.a. the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation.
• Complicating things further, the association also details the fact that both President John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were known for pardoning turkeys during their times in office.
• Making things even weirder, credit for which president made turkey pardoning an annual event also goes to President Harry Truman in some sources. However, while it’s true the National Turkey Federation gifted President Truman with a turkey, there isn’t any proof that he is responsible for the first president turkey pardon or any at all.

Pardoning a turkey may be an American tradition each fall, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t differing views as to the history of the ceremony. But that’s okay. It just gives us all one more thing to debate at the dinner table each year.

Friendsgiving at MCAS Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, and Marine Corps Air Station New River

Biden’s turkey pardon isn’t the only way POTUS is celebrating this year. The President is meeting with members of the U.S. military and their families at MCAS Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, and Marine Corps Air Station New River on November 21, 2022, for a Thanksgiving meal. The meal is being hosted by the Robert Irvine Foundation and will see the Bidens serving some of the meals prepared by internationally known chef Robert Irvine. This is reminiscent of last year when both President and First Lady Biden served in a similar capacity at Fort Bragg. This is a great tradition and just one of the many examples that the Robert Irvine Foundation finds itself a part of. As an organization, its focus is on helping the military community, first responders, and their families.

What Happens to Pardoned Turkeys?

There are a number of places where you can find a pardoned turkey. This includes having the birds shipped to universities, petting zoos, Morven Park in Virginia, and other places, as well. That’s the good news. The bad news is that while these turkeys will have their lives spared, it doesn’t necessarily equate to a longer, happy life. Many accounts show that pardoned turkeys seem to die in a relatively short time upon their arrival to wherever they end up.

The Growing President Pardon Turkey Roster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvxANBmS-Ts The list of lucky birds that avoid the dinner table during Thanksgiving is growing as the tradition continues. You’ll notice that beginning in 2001, there are two names. This is because there is always an alternative chosen along with the pardoned turkey. Optics are everything, of course:

• Charlie (1987)
• Woody (1988)
• Harry the Turkey (1999)
• Jerry the Turkey (2000)
• Liberty and Freedom (2001)
• Katie and Zack (2002)
• Stars and Stripes (2003)
• Biscuits and Gravy (2004)
• Marshmallow and Yam (2005)
• Flyer and Fryer (2006)
• May and Flower (2007)
• Pumpkin and Pecan (2008)
• Courage and Carolina (2009)
• Apple and Cider (2010)
• Liberty and Peace (2011)
• Cobbler and Gobbler (2012)
• Caramel and Popcorn (2013)
• Mac and Cheese (2014)
• Honest and Abe (2015)
• Tater and Tot (2016)
• Drumstick and Wishbone (2017)
• Peas and Carrots (2018)
• Butter and Bread (2019)
• Corn and Cob (2020)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly (2021)
• Chocolate and Chip (2022)

The two turkeys that will be involved with the 2022 pardoning, Chocolate and Chip, are from North Carolina. The turkey pardon continues as new traditions to honor our troops emerge. These are perfect reminders that we are blessed to be Americans. Now, someone please pass the dressing. Read next:9 Veterans Thanksgiving Resources To Check Out

Image: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin