Thanksgiving: Biden celebrates ‘Friendsgiving’ with service members in New York

President Joe Biden has pardoned two turkeys at the White House before traveling with First Lady Jill Biden to New York to continue early Thanksgiving celebrations on Monday.

The Bidens attended a “Friendsgiving” event at the US Coast Guard Sector, New York in Staten Island, where they joined service members and their families as part of the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative, which focuses on supporting military families.

In his brief remarks, President Biden emphasized the nation’s responsibility to care for its military personnel: “We have one sacred obligation… to care for those we send into harm’s way.”

Following his speech, the president wore a dark blue apron featuring a presidential seal, briefly snacked on some bread, then put on plastic gloves to serve vegetables to the attendees.

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The president also expressed his appreciation for the U.S. Coast Guard members who responded to the hurricanes earlier this year.

“Helene hit the coast shore, you rushed to the front lines, the search and rescue missions, up and down the coast,” he said of the deadly storm.

“When Hurricane Milton hit less than two weeks later, it stuck up again to help your fellow Americans,” he added. “Simply put, we owe you,” the president concluded.

Earlier in the day, President Biden pardoned two turkeys, named Peach and Blossom, from Minnesota during the annual White House ceremony.

He explained that the turkeys were named after Delaware’s state flower, the Peach Blossom.

At a gathering of around 2,500 people on the South Lawn, the president stated, “This event marks the official start of the holiday season here in Washington.

It’s also my last time to speak here as your president during this season and give thanks and gratitude. So let me say to you: It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful.”

 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE