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| President Bush pets the
national Thanksgiving turkey Marshmallow during a ceremony pardoning the
turkey in the Old Executive Office Building, Tuesday, Nov. 22,
2005. |
President Bush spared two turkeys from becoming
Thanksgiving dinner. Instead, the birds are going to Disneyland.
Thousands of people voted on the White House Web site to name the
national turkey "Marshmallow" and an alternate called "Yam."
At a ceremony Tuesday, Bush peered into
Marshmallow's eyes, stroked its white fluffy
feathers and patted its red head.
In years past, turkeys spared in presidential ceremonies were sent to
live at a local farm.
This year, the turkeys will be honorary grand marshals at Disneyland's
Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"I know Marshmallow and Yam are going to feel
pretty good strutting
around sunny California, remembering the cold days of Minnesota," Bush
said.
The turkey ceremony, which usually is held in the Rose Garden, was
moved inside to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Vice President Dick Cheney looked on as Bush talked of giving thanks
for the generosity extended to the victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes
and for U.S. troops serving abroad.
"We think of our military families who will have an empty seat at the
table this Thanksgiving," he said.
Later in the day, Bush, his wife, Laura, and two daughters, Jenna and
Barbara, left to celebrate the holiday at their Texas ranch.
"Happy Thanksgiving," Bush called out as he headed across the South
Lawn to Marine One.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which in the past has been
critical because presidential turkeys have been sent to a working farm
rather than an animal sanctuary, praised the decision to send them to
Disneyland.
(Agencies) |
美國總統布什赦免了兩只即將成為感恩節晚餐的火雞，這兩只被放生火雞將被送往迪斯尼樂園。
數千網民在白宮的官方網站將這兩只“國家火雞”分別命名為“果汁軟糖”和“山藥”。
在周二舉行的放生儀式上，布什看著“果汁軟糖”的眼睛，輕撫它身上的白色絨毛，還拍了拍它紅色的雞冠。
過去，在總統舉行的儀式上被放生的火雞一般會被送到當地的農場去頤養天年。
今年，這兩只火雞將作為名譽司儀參加迪斯尼樂園的感恩節游行活動。
“我知道當‘果汁軟糖’和‘山藥’在加利福尼亞暖洋洋的陽光下漫步時，想起以前明尼蘇達州寒冷的日子，它們一定會感覺非常好，”布什說。
通常火雞放生儀式都在白宮玫瑰花園舉行，不過今年的儀式轉移到了艾森豪威爾辦公樓內舉行。
布什說要感謝人們對墨西哥灣沿岸卡特里娜颶風受害者的慷慨關懷，還要感謝駐扎海外的美國軍隊表示感謝，副總統迪克·切尼在一邊看著他。
布什說：“在感恩節到來的時候，我們想起了那些不能與親人團聚的美國軍人家庭。”
22日晚些時候，布什和妻子勞拉以及兩個女兒詹納和芭芭拉將離開白宮回到德克薩斯州的農場慶祝感恩節。
“感恩節快樂！”布什穿過南草坪走向“海軍一號”時大聲說道。
人道對待動物協會曾經因為被總統放生的火雞被送到農場而不是動物避難所而提出抗議，這次，他們對布什總統將火雞送往迪斯尼樂園的做法稱贊不已。
(中國日報網站薛曉文編譯) |
Updated: 2005-11-24 09:22
