The animal lovers determined to counter the animal
sacrifice introduced the custom of letting a turkey, pardoned by the
President of the United States, free to live a natural life comfortably
in a zoo at Herndon. This pardon is given at the last minute before the
execution of the Turkey in a ceremony at the White House. Here we
reiterate the words of the official pardon:
"By virtue of this pardon, (Turkey of the year's name) is on her
way not to the dinner table but to Kidwell Farm in Herndon, VA. There
she'll live out her days as safe and comfortable as she can be."
It is said that this tradition was first observed in 1947 and was
conceived by Harry Truman. After the Turkey gets the Presidential
Pardon, it is transported to Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo at Frying Pan
Park in Herndon, Virginia to be welcomed as the chief guest along with
the President in a Turkey 'Roast' celebration. Here, the Turkey is not
'roasted' in the oven but through humor and turkey jokes. The Turkey
gets a new home in the Turkey Barn.
Some of the witty comments that the Presidents of the United States of
America have gobbled up of on this occasion are:
