Presidential TurkeyRelease Ceremony

The annual presidential turkey release ceremony began during President Truman's administration in 1947, but this traditional ceremony can actually be traced back to the time of President Lincoln during the American Civil War. One day in 1863, Lincoln's son Ted suddenly entered a cabinet meeting to request the pardon of a pet turkey named Jack, because this turkey, which had been sent to the White House, was about to become a Christmas meal for people.

On November 22, 2006, in Washington, USA, President Bush held a Thanksgiving turkey release ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, and pardoned a turkey named "Flyer".

On November 20, 2007, Bush held the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Release Ceremony. These two turkeys were named "May" and "Flower", which refer to the "Mayflower" that the Pilgrims sailed on when they arrived in the New World.