President Barack Obama has pardoned turkeys Liberty and Peace with his daughters, Melia and Sasha by his side.
President Obama says that the turkeys were trained for the big day by being exposed to loud noises, flash bulbs, and learning to gobble without really saying anything.
After a wave of his hand (which looked like the Pope's benediction), President Obama officially spared Liberty and Peace, who will now spend their lives free of the fear of being eaten.
The tradition of pardoning a turkey is said to have started with Abraham Lincoln, who pardoned his son Tad's turkey.
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Laine Doss is the food and spirits editor for Miami New Times. She has been featured on Cooking Channel's Eat Street and Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. She won an Alternative Weekly award for her feature about what it's like to wait tables.
