National Thanksgiving Turkey "Going to Disneyland!" To Celebrate Presidential Pardon
Watch "Turkey Cam" Live From Disneyland On Thanksgiving Day at www.disneyparks.com
(November 26, 2008) The National Thanksgiving Turkey will really have
something to celebrate following today's traditional Presidential pardon
ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. "Pumpkin" and his alternate "Pecan" are
going to Disneyland! It starts with a police escort to Dulles International
Airport. Then the birds will "fly" First-Class on United Airlines Flight
Turkey-1 to their new home at Disneyland Resort in Southern California.
The turkey's special Thanksgiving Day celebration is a preview of things to come
in 2009, as Disney Parks asks guests, "What Will You Celebrate?" and invites
them to mark life's special moments with a Disney visit.
The trip from
Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles will mark the fourth consecutive year that the
National Thanksgiving Turkey has celebrated his pardon at a Disney Resort.
Accompanied by National Turkey Federation Chairman Paul Hill of Ellsworth, Iowa,
Pumpkin, a 20-week-old, 45-pound tom turkey, will be the grand marshal in a
special Thanksgiving Day parade down Main Street U.S.A. Following the
parade, Pumpkin and his alternate Pecan will find a home at Santa's Reindeer
Round-Up at Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland, where they'll remain throughout
the holidays and the rest of their lives.
Americans nationwide will be
able to share the celebration as the turkey enjoys his new Disneyland home.
See photos of the National Thanksgiving Turkey and watch video of this year's
White House pardon at www.disneyparks.com on Nov. 26 and 27. And, for the
first time, watch the turkey LIVE from Disneyland on Thanksgiving Day from 12
p.m.-4 p.m. PST (3 p.m.-7 p.m. EST). Go to www.disneyparks.com, listen for the
turkey's gobble, and then click on the turkey face to access "Turkey Cam" LIVE
from Disneyland.
"My family and I celebrate the honor of presenting the
National Thanksgiving Turkey to the President of the United States," said
Chairman Hill of the turkey federation. "We'll also be celebrating the special
privilege of flying to Disneyland where the turkey will be the grand marshal in
the Disneyland Thanksgiving Day parade."
Added Captain Vince Kramer of
United Turkey-1 and Assistant Chief Pilot for United's Airbus 320 Fleet, "United
is proud to fly our special, feathered guests and to help them achieve every
turkey's dream of flight. It is a rare treat for turkeys to reach 30,000
feet, and we look forward to getting them to Los Angeles and landing safely and
on-time."
U.S. President Harry S Truman was the first Commander-in-Chief
to be presented with a Thanksgiving turkey (in 1947) by the National Turkey
Federation. This year's presentation marks the 61st anniversary of a tradition
that has continued through 10 successive White House administrations. The 2008
National Thanksgiving Turkey was raised under Chairman Hill's supervision on a
farm in West Liberty, Iowa.
The National Turkey Federation is the
advocate for all segments of the U.S. turkey industry, providing services and
conducting activities which increase demand for its members' products, as well
as enhance the ability to effectively and profitably provide wholesome,
high-quality, nutritious turkey products.
-- Posted November 26, 2008