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6C COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL November 25, 2015 Lincoln in 1863 BY TOM EMERY For the Sentinel E ach year just before Thanksgiving, the Presi- dent ceremoniously pardons a turkey, a light-hearted moment in his otherwise grueling sched- ule. The tradition is traced to Abraham Lincoln, who wrote a pardon at the behest of his youngest son, Tad, in 1863. Though the origin is debated, many researchers believe that Lincoln was the fi rst to bestow a Presidential pardon on a turkey, thus saving it from the dinner table. The reprieve, though, was actually issued at Christmas. In late 1863, the Lincolns received a turkey as a gift, and though the bird was intended for Christmas dinner, nine-year-old Tad, an animal lover, had other ideas. He made a pet of the bird, which he named Jack, and taught the bird to follow him around the White House grounds. On Christmas Eve, the Presi- dent tried to tell his son that the bird would become the family dinner. Upset, Tad reportedly cried, “I can’t help it. He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him killed.” Lincoln gave in and wrote out a pardon on a card, which he handed to his son to appease him. “Tad was begging for the turkey’s life,” said Dr. Wayne Temple, an accomplished Lin- as the fi rst President to issue a turkey pardon, others cite Harry S. Truman, who was the fi rst to receive a gift bird from the National Turkey Federation in 1947. However, offi cials at the Truman Presidential Library in Missouri have found no evidence of any pardons given by Truman to a turkey." coln scholar and Deputy Direc- tor of the Illinois State Archives in Springfi eld. “Lincoln was al- ways looking for something to amuse the children, so he par- doned the turkey.” The President’s playfulness refl ected other episodes with his children. In 1861, he had written a pardon for a soldier doll, also named Jack, that Tad and older brother Willie (who died the next February) had sentenced to death. In 1997, Bill Clinton refer- enced Lincoln’s story in cer- emonies to pardon a 60-pounder named Willis. George W. Bush also made reference to Lincoln’s pardon in 2001. “Lincoln is probably the only President with the sense of hu- mor to pardon a turkey,” laughed Temple. “Other Presidents have been more serious-minded, but that’s how Lincoln could be.” Some of Lincoln’s successors have shown less inclination. After President Obama’s fi rst turkey pardon in 2009, a com- mentator found that the chief executive “did not seem all that thrilled with his role.” Seven years before, when a female turkey – a 30-pound gobbler named Katie – was pardoned for the fi rst time, G. W. Bush absentmindedly twice called the bird “he.” While many researchers cred- it Lincoln as the fi rst President to issue a turkey pardon, others cite Harry S. Truman, who was the fi rst to receive a gift bird from the National Turkey Fed- eration in 1947. However, offi - cials at the Truman Presidential Library in Missouri have found no evidence of any pardons giv- en by Truman to a turkey. His successor, Dwight D. Eisenhower, ate each of the birds given to him during his eight years in offi ce. Four days before his assassination in 1963, John F. Kennedy offhandedly said of a 55-pound gift turkey, “we’ll let this one grow.” The fi rst President on record to deliver a pardon was Ronald Reagan in 1987, allegedly to draw attention from reporters’ questions on the Iran-Contra affair. No turkeys were spared the following year, but in 1989, Reagan’s successor, George H.W. Bush, instituted the par- don as an annual rite. Two turkeys are normally chosen for the ceremony, one serving as an alternate, to stand in if the fi rst bird cannot fulfi ll the duties. In 2008, Bush par- doned the backup, Pumpkin, af- ter the top turkey, Pecan, came down sick the night before the ceremony. In recent years, reprieved tur- keys have been sent to various locations in Virginia, including George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon and a place in Fairfax County called Frying Pan Park. From 2005-09, the turkeys were fl own fi rst-class to Disneyland to serve as grand marshals of Disney’s Thanks- giving Day Parade. Today, the annual ceremony to pardon the turkey usually lasts a few minutes and provides a prime photo opportunity for the President and members of his family. The White House frequently invites children to join the ceremony, adding to the holiday festivities. I am thankful for my loving parents that are nice to me and try to make me happy. I try to be thankful for all of the happiness that happens in my life. I am happy for the people that are nice to me and changed my life. I am happy. I am glad that all of my teachers taught me many things. I am thankful for all these things because all of these nice people taught me something, made me happy or helped me I am happy for my friends that play with me and make me happy. I am thankful for all of these things so I am happy. Michael Dickinson I am thankful for my mom and dad because they work hard for me and my sister and brother. My dad works hard for money for my mom, so that she can buy things that we need like food, clothes and shoes. And my dad is working so he can save money to go back to Mexico to live there. I am thankful for my uncle because he helped me with multiplica- tion chart for 4th grade and 5th grade. And he helps me with math and reading in English and Spanish. I am thankful for cousin because he gave me money for the jog o thon. I am thankful for the army because they fought for us and saved us. I am thankful for my dad be- cause he bought my house and buying for me and my brother and sister for going to school. I am thankful for all the teachers and for Lucig because they all taught me a lot of math, sci- ence and reading. Thank you teachers! Jose Menchaca I am thankful for parents because they take care of me, for putting a roof on my head and for giving them jobs to pay for my sister’s college and to feed us. I am also thank- ful for my family to care for us. I’m thankful for the army to fi ght our world wars. I’m also thankful for the teacher for teaching us to read, write, and for teaching math. I’m thank- ful for the roof’s on the houses. I’m thankful for my pets to play with. I’m also thankful for my friends to play and hang out with. I’m also thankful for peace. I’m thankful for the fl oors and walls for keeping us warm and have ground to step on when we walk. I’m sorry if I haven’t said thank you. But I am thankful for everything I have and for the things that are in the world to help kids to learn like me. That’s what am thankful. Ashley Pleitez I am thankful for my family each one of them. My brother Emry he is fun to hang out with and talk to also I love him. My sister Kara she is caring she talks to me when I’m sad and plays with me sometimes. Also there is my step mom she cares for me she loves me. And my other sister Elyssa she plays with me and we hang out with each other. Y dad cheers me up when I’m sad he does what he can to help us and I love him. Last but not least my brother Cody he plays with me he cheers me up when I’m sad but I don’t listen I should though. I just get sad or mad and don’t listen. That’s all I’m thankful for. Ethan McMurray I am thankful for Cottage Grove and that it’s a city. I’m also thankful that I have friends so that I’m not bored. I’m thankful that I have family or I would have nobody to teach me anything. I would have no way to get food. I’m thankful that I have a snug bed to sleep in. I’m thankful that I have pres- ence in the world. I’m thankful that I’m outfi tted with some clothes. I’m thankful that I’m writing this paper. Tristan Bentley I am thankful for my dad because he works at the post offi ce. He makes money to have a house and a car. Zachary I am thankful for my family because my dad exerciseses and he helps me ride my bike far- ther. My mom supports a roof over my head. I have the best grandmas in the world because one got me a bike the other got me an apartment for me and my dad. I thank my great aunt because she got my previous bike. I also thank my great great uncle because he taught me to be who I am and to live my life the way I want to. Sophia Chappelle I am thankful for my family because they make me laugh and they work hard to get me clothes and shoes for me and my brother. My family cares for me when I’m gone. Some kids don’t have a family that buy them clothes or shoes and don’t care for them so I’m lucky that I have a family that care for me and my brother. Angelina Rigole I am thankful for Bohemia because it is a very nice place to learn. Some people I am thankful for are my mom, dad, and little brother. Because my mom and dad work so hard to keep me and my brother safe, healthy, and happy. I am thank- ful for my little brother because he does so much for me like he stands up for me, and when I am sad he is there to com- fort me. I am thankful for my grandma because she is always there when I need her. Gigi Valley I am thankful for having a MARVOLOUS family. They help me learn new things. I’m thankful that they can afford to buy me clothes and that we have a nice home. I’m thankful for my teachers that taught me how to read, do math, science, etc. I am thankful that my sis- ter Abril, taught me how to be a good role model. I am thankful that I am alive and that I can smell, feel, see, talk, and that I have doctors that will help me hear better. I am thankful to be ME! Helen Leal-Coronel STARFIRE LUMBER CO. 2795 Mosby Creek Rd. 541-942-0168 Wishing you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. HOLIDAY SAFETY TIP Hanging outdoor lights? Stay more than 10 feet away from power lines. For more safety tips and energy-saving ideas, go to pacificpower.net or call us toll free at 1-888-221-7070. Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. He may be reached at 217-710-8392 or il- civilwar@yahoo.com. What I'm thankful for....cont. get to practice sports with him. I am hopeful we have world peace. I am thankful for teach- ers because they help us learn. I am happy we have beautiful days. Thanks to all my family love you all. Araya Doolittle From our family to yours go our very best wishes for a festive Thanksgiving holiday filled with the graces of good friends, good food and the love of family members. For your support we are deeply thankful. © 2015 Pacific Power Presidential turkey pardon has become an annual tradition Custom began with "While many researchers credit Lincoln Happy Thanksgiving friends because I have people to talk to and hang out with. Another thing I’m thankful for is school, if there was no school I wouldn’t have friends, I wouldn’t know math, science or how to read. I may not like to wake up so early for school and I may not like it sometimes, but I’m thankful for it. I’m thank- ful I have this wonderful life. Shelby Taddei In the spirit of the holiday, we’d like to give our thanks to you, our neighbors and friends, for the generous support you’ve given us this past year. We feel truly blessed to serve people like you and look forward to your continued friendship. $ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM Our Community Newspaper since 1889 109 Hwy. 99 South, Cottage Grove Subscribe and $AVE 942-4466 At this time of Th anksgiving we pause to count our blessings. Th e freedom of this great country in which we live. It’s opportunity for achievement. Th e friendship and confi dence you have shown in us. For all of these things we are deeply thankful. Our best wishes for a Happy Th anksgiving. Cottage Grove Sentinel I am thankful for my family because they make me laugh, cheer me up when I cry, and show that they care. My parents are also very nice and they are the reason I have food, clothes and a house. They work very hard for my brother and I. I also am happy I have Cottage Grove Sentinel
