Cobbler Wins Presidential Pardon, Tradition Continues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Barack Obama, in a brief Rose Garden ceremony Nov. 21, officially pardoned Cobbler, the turkey that won the election by popular choice. With daughters Malia Ann and Natasha at his side, the president noted “Life is about second chances,” something, he joked, he was quite familiar with this year.
Both pardon contenders were 19-weeks old, and tipped the scale at 40 pounds. Both were hatched and raised at Craig and Nancy Miller’s farm, near Harrisonburg, Va. They grew under supervision of National Turkey Federation Chairman Steve Willardsen, who is president of Cargill’s turkey processing business, and in partnership with the Virginia Poultry Federation.
Turkeys have been carving out a special place in American history since 1963. That’s when John F. Kennedy became the first U.S. President to “pardon” a turkey at the White House — a tradition that’s grown to be known as the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation.
On Nov. 21, President Obama pardoned the 2012 National Thanksgiving Turkey and this year, for the first time ever, the American public got its say. People all across the country flocked to cast their vote.
Born on the same day on a farm in Rockingham Country, Va., Cobbler and Gobbler, no relation to Mr. Gobbler, the turkey featured on the Herald front page Nov. 21, may look alike, but they’re no birds of a feather. Cobbler craves cranberries, is known for his strut, and enjoys the musical stylings of Carly Simon. Gobbler, a patient but proud bird, loves to nibble on corn and enjoys any music with a fiddle.
It’s all gravy — no turkeys will be harmed during the selection of the National Thanksgiving Turkey. After the pardoning, both turkeys travel to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens to reside in a custom-made enclosure at Mount Vernon’s nationally recognized livestock facility. Additionally, if for any reason one turkey is unable to perform the duties of the National Thanksgiving Turkey; his alternate will take his place during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation.
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Presidential Proclamation — Thanksgiving Day, 2012
THANKSGIVING DAY, 2012
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On Thanksgiving Day, Americans everywhere gather with family and friends to recount the joys and blessings of the past year. This day is a time to take stock of the fortune we have known and the kindnesses we have shared, grateful for the God-given bounty that enriches our lives. As many pause to lend a hand to those in need, we are also reminded of the indelible spirit of compassion and mutual responsibility that has distinguished our Nation since its earliest days.
Many Thanksgivings have offered opportunities to celebrate community during times of hardship. When the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony gave thanks for a bountiful harvest nearly four centuries ago, they enjoyed the fruits of their labor with the Wampanoag tribe — a people who had shared vital knowledge of the land in the difficult months before. When President George Washington marked our democracy’s first Thanksgiving, he prayed to our Creator for peace, union, and plenty through the trials that would surely come. And when our Nation was torn by bitterness and civil war, President Abraham Lincoln reminded us that we were, at heart, one Nation, sharing a bond as Americans that could bend but would not break. Those expressions of unity still echo today, whether in the contributions that generations of Native Americans have made to our country, the Union our forebears fought so hard to preserve, or the providence that draws our families together this season.
As we reflect on our proud heritage, let us also give thanks to those who honor it by giving back. This Thanksgiving, thousands of our men and women in uniform will sit down for a meal far from their loved ones and the comforts of home. We honor their service and sacrifice. We also show our appreciation to Americans who are serving in their communities, ensuring their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay. Their actions reflect our age-old belief that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and they affirm once more that we are a people who draw our deepest strength not from might or wealth, but from our bonds to each other.
On Thanksgiving Day, individuals from all walks of life come together to celebrate this most American tradition, grateful for the blessings of family, community, and country. Let us spend this day by lifting up those we love, mindful of the grace bestowed upon us by God and by all who have made our lives richer with their presence.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 2012, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the United States to join together — whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors — and give thanks for all we have received in the past year, express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and share our bounty with others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA