[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 48 (Monday, December 1, 2003)]
[Pages 1680-1681]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation Ceremony

November 24, 2003

    Thank you all. Welcome. Thanks for coming. Good morning, and welcome 
to the Rose Garden. In a moment you can come up and welcome our guest of 
honor, Stars the turkey. He looks pretty friendly. He actually looks 
well rested. You'd be well rested, too, if you had your own room in 
Hotel Washington here in Washington, DC. [Laughter] It sounds like Stars 
wants to give the speech.
    I appreciate you joining me to give this turkey a Presidential 
pardon. Stars is a very special bird with a very special name. This 
year, for the first time, thousands of people voted on the White House 
web site to name the national turkey and the alternate turkey. ``Stars'' 
and ``Stripes'' beat out ``Pumpkin'' and ``Cranberry.'' And it was a 
neck-to-neck race. [Laughter]
    Under the official rules, the alternate turkey has an important 
role, not to be taken lightly. The rulebook states that an alternate 
turkey is chosen in case the national Thanksgiving turkey cannot fulfill 
his role in this

[[Page 1681]]

ceremony. It's kind of like being the Vice President. [Laughter]
    Our Nation's sense of gratitude is the source of great generosity of 
our people. Some of the boys and girls here today have done their part 
this year. Fifth graders from Flint Hill School collected the fixings 
and made sandwiches for people at the local homeless shelter. Through 
your compassion, you're showing the goodness of America, and we are 
really proud of you. Thanks for doing that.
    I want to thank our Secretary of Agriculture for joining us today. 
Secretary Ann Veneman is doing a great job for our country. I want to 
thank Bob Wright, who's the chairman of the National Turkey Federation, 
for joining today. I appreciate Dr. Alice Johnson, who's the president. 
Thanks for coming, Alice.
    Today marks a--and continues a long White House tradition. We're 
honoring the beginning of a holiday season. It speaks well for America 
that one of our most important holidays is set aside for sharing and 
appreciating our blessings. Our Nation was founded by people of great 
accomplishment, great courage, and great humility. They believed not 
only in themselves but also in the goodness of God's wisdom and God's 
plan for every life. This American quality has endured throughout the 
generations. Americans are, at our best, are a reverent and a grateful 
people. Even in times of hardship, we see all around us gifts to be 
thankful for, our families and friends, the beautiful land we call home, 
and the freedom granted to us all.
    This year, as in other times in our history, we can be especially 
grateful for the courage and faithfulness of those who defend us. Every 
man and woman who wears our country's uniform is a volunteer, facing 
hardships and sometimes peril, because they believe in this country and 
our cause. We're thinking of them and their families. We think of the 
military families that have suffered loss. We can be grateful to live in 
a country that has produced such good and brave people who stand between 
us and the dangers of the world.
    On this holiday, we're reminded of our blessings. We're reminded of 
our responsibilities. Our Nation's sense of gratitude is the source of 
the great generosity and compassion of our people.
    And now it's time to grant a little compassion to our guest of 
honor. I'm not sure why any turkey would want to reside at a place 
called Frying Pan Park. [Laughter] Maybe they explained the alternatives 
to him. [Laughter] In any case, off he goes. By virtue of the 
Presidential pardon, Stars will live out his days there at Kidwell Farm 
in Virginia. And so he won't be alone, I hereby pardon Stripes as well.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you. May God bless you and your families. 
Thanks for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 9:25 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House.