First Anniversary of the Orange Revolution

Presidential Message: First Anniversary of the Orange Revolution

I send greetings to those celebrating the first anniversary of the Orange Revolution.

One year ago today, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens stood up to defend democracy in their homeland. Through great courage and determination, they showed the world that the love of liberty is stronger than the will of tyranny. Last year's revolution was a powerful example of freedom and democracy in action and an inspiration to those aspiring for freedom in their own land.

Ukraine's leadership now faces an historic opportunity and has an historic responsibility to fulfill the promise of the Orange Revolution and continue to transform Ukraine into a fully democratic state. The United States will continue to support the efforts of President Viktor Yushchenko in advancing a democratic, prosperous, and secure Ukraine, and America is proud to call Ukraine a friend.

Laura and I send our best wishes on this special occasion.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # # For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, November 22, 2005

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Related: Keyword, Ukraine. Tuesday, November 23, 2004 Statement on Ukrainian Elections, Wednesday, November 24, 2004 Ukraine elections Elizabeth Jones Yuriy Ushakov, Thursday, November 25, 2004 Colin Powell Briefing Ukraine full video text, Friday, December 03, 2004 Ukraine Elections Richard Boucher, Saturday, December 04, 2004 Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova, Wednesday, December 15, 2004 Deputy Secretary Armitage, Oleg Rybachuk, Victor Yushchenko, Saturday, January 22, 2005 Inauguration Viktor Yushchenko Ukraine, Sunday, January 23, 2005 Colin L. Powell Victor Yushchenko Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, February 18, 2005 NATO Project to Destroy Excess Ukrainian Weapons, Friday, March 11, 2005 Ukrainian President Yushchenko to the White House

Annual pardoning of the National Turkey

President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney participate in the annual pardoning of the National Turkey in the Rose Garden Nov. 17, 2004. This year's ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005

This year marks the 58th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation. Though live Thanksgiving turkeys have been presented intermittently to presidents since the Lincoln administration, the current ceremony dates to 1947, when the first National Thanksgiving Turkey was presented to President Harry Truman.

The presentation at times has brushed against broader history. For example, the November 1963 event was one of President Kennedy's last in the Rose Garden. The first President Bush conducted the 1990 ceremony just before leaving for Thanksgiving with the troops in the Persian Gulf region. President Clinton in 1996 returned from an Asian summit and literally went directly to the ceremony.

The 2005 National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate are from Henning, Minnesota and were raised under the direction of National Turkey Federation Chairman Pete Rothfork. Mr. Rothfork delegated the day-to-day responsibilities to James and Vicki Trites of Henning. The birds are commercial turkeys used in normal industry production, and they were raised using the same techniques as other commercial birds. They were fed a regular diet of corn and soybean meal and were provided a continuous supply of fresh water.

A few minor modifications were made to prepare the birds for the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation. About 30 turkeys were removed from the normal commercial production flock and are being raised separately on the Trites farm. The birds are periodically hand fed and given additional interaction with people in an effort to acclimate them.

Presidents traditionally have granted the National Thanksgiving Turkey a "pardon". For the past 15 years, the National Thanksgiving Turkeys and their alternates have been retired to Frying Pan Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. The farm is a 1930s-era replica farm operated by the Fairfax County Parks Department.

This year, after the presentation, the National Turkey and its alternate will be taken to Disneyland Resort and Theme Park in Anaheim, California to be a part of the holiday display and where they will stay the remainder of their natural lives. Both the turkeys will serve as honorary Grand Marshals for Disneyland’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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Related: Keyword, Thanksgiving. Tuesday, October 04, 2005 Presidential Press Conference (VIDEO) 10/04/05, Saturday, November 27, 2004 bush radio address 11/27/04 full audio, text transcript, Friday, November 26, 2004 Remarks by the President to the Travel Pool, Wednesday, November 24, 2004 Thanksgiving Day, 2004, Wednesday, November 02, 2005 Thanksgiving