VIDEO: Obama spares 2 turkeys in annual Thanksgiving rite

November 27, 2013 1:00 pm • Last Updated: November 27, 2013 1:16 pm

President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha, second from left, and Malia, right, carries on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving the national turkey, Popcorn, from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, as John Burkel, current chairman of the National Turkey Federation in Badger, Minn, stands left. After the pardoning, Popcorn travels to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens where they will be on display for visitors during "Christmas at Mount Vernon."

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has spared two turkeys from the brine and the oven, fulfilling the annual tradition of a presidential pardon for a couple of lucky birds ahead of Thanksgiving Day.

Obama pardoned Popcorn, who shared the stage with the president on the North Portico of the White House on a cold drizzly day. An alternate turkey, named Caramel, also received a pardon, though it did not have the benefit of a face-to-beak meeting with the president.

Obama said presidents have many awesome and solemn responsibilities. "This is not one of them," he says.

Popcorn and Caramel are 38-pound turkeys from Badger , Minn.

The turkeys will be on display at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens through Jan. 6.

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