Turkey Pardons

Today I saw President Obama pardoning a turkey. The whole ceremony seemed rather silly. What had the turkey done? And when did this pardoning start? I couldn't see George Washington pardoning a turkey. Can you imagine the father of our country indulging in such an undignified ceremony?

According to Infoplease.com, the President has received a turkey from the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board since 1947. The turkeys were eaten, with one exception. In 1963, when JFK received the turkey, he said, "Let's just keep him." It wasn't until 1989 that a turkey was pardoned by Bush I. Sounds like a photo op to me.

Again according to Infoplease, the pardoned turkeys aren't eaten. Until 2004, the turkeys went to Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo in Herndon, Virginia, located in Frying Pan Park. Really -- Frying Pan Park. In 2005 and 2006, the turkeys were flown to California, where they served as grand marshals for Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After the parade, they were taken to a Disneyland ranch -- sort of an Old Turkey's Home.

Only in America.