[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[November 24, 1992]
[Pages 2169-2170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation Ceremony
November 24, 1992

    Thank you, kids. Thank you very much. Please be seated. And let me 
just say I want to welcome all of you. Certainly Mr. Cuddie, who is the 
president of the National Turkey Federation; Stuart Proctor, the 
executive vice president. I want to especially welcome all the kids: 
From Kent Gardens Elementary, now, where are you? Hold up your--there 
they are, right over--this group, good. Amidon Elementary? Yep. Holy 
Cross, and maybe some strays out there from other schools. Anyway, 
everyone is really welcome.
    And of course, the special guest of honor, the bird over here. I 
hope you guys have seen him. After participating in this ceremony year 
after year, I've come to learn a little about the turkey. For instance, 
it's hand fed. It gets lots of personal attention. And it's over-weight 
and reminds me of

[[Page 2170]]

Ranger, who you may have seen running around here, our dog. We're trying 
to avoid a confrontation between the turkey and our springer.
    But I want to set the guests at ease and especially tell the kids 
something. After all, this turkey represents America's 45 million 
turkeys who will begin making their irreplaceable contribution to our 
Thanksgiving celebration. So take it easy, turkey, we're just here to 
serve you. [Laughter]
    We all know that Thanksgiving is more than just an occasion to stuff 
yourself. It's a uniquely American holiday, a time for remembering all 
the good things that we've been given or asking ourselves what good we 
can find to do. After all, only America would set aside a special 
holiday just for the purpose of giving thanks. George Washington, in the 
first Presidential Thanksgiving Day proclamation, spoke of, and here's 
the quotation, ``the duty . . . to acknowledge the providence of 
Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and 
humbly to implore His protection and favor . . . .''
    Well, this turkey must have said some prayers of his own. And we're 
going to grant him a special Presidential pardon. He will be going into 
early retirement, I'm told, living out his years on a Virginia 
children's farm.
    I want to thank all of you for being here on this special occasion, 
welcome all our new friends to the White House. God bless you, and may 
you have a happy Thanksgiving.

                    Note: The President spoke at 2:05 p.m. in the Rose 
                        Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Bruce Cuddie, president, and Stuart 
                        E. Proctor, Jr., executive vice president, 
                        National Turkey Federation.