US President Barack Obama "pardoned' a turkey at a White House ceremony on Thanksgiving Eve (25 November), quipping that: "For months there has been a fierce competition between a bunch of turkeys trying to win their way into the White House.

"Today I can announce that the American people have spoken and we have two winners, their names are Honest and Abe." Obama, who was was joined by his daughters, said that Abe is now a "free bird" and the "TOTUS" –Turkey of the United States.

After the pardoning, the turkeys will be on display for visitors at their permanent home at Morven Park's Turkey Hill, the historic turkey farm located at the home of former Virginia governor Westmoreland Davis in Leesburg, Virginia. Both birds were raised in the Central Valley of California under the supervision of National Turkey Federation Chairman Dr Jihad Douglas.

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