Politics & Government

Obama to pardon Thanksgiving turkey

Anita Kumar - McClatchy Washington Bureau

November 22, 2013 02:34 PM

A turkey stands in a pen as Gov. Mark Dayton kicks off Thanksgiving week in Minnesota with a brief stay of execution for the turkey at the state Capitol in Minneapolis, Monday, Nov. 25, 2013. The turkey will be sent to the St. Paul Salvation Army and, eventually, be served to the less-fortunate. This turkey is the brother of two turkeys that were sent to The White House for a presidential pardon. ASSOCIATED PRESS

You know Thanksgiving is just around the corner when the president is getting ready to pardon a turkey.

Or two.

The 66th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation will take place Wednesday in the Rose Garden.

The 2013 National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate were hatched and raised near Badger, Minnesota.

After the pardoning, the turkeys will be driven to George Washington's s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, where they will remain during the holiday season.

The turkeys will then travel to their permanent home at Morven Park's Turkey Hill, the historic turkey farm located at the home of former Virginia Gov. Westmoreland Davis in Leesburg, Va.