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President Barack Obama, with daughters, Malia and Sasha, pardons ‘Liberty’, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, in a ceremony on the North Portico of the White House, Nov. 23, 2011. At left is National Turkey Federation Chairman Richard Huisinga. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

As promised, this morning, President Obama pardoned two more turkeys — Liberty and Peace. The ceremony was held on the North Portico of the White House, and the president received a bit of help of his daughters, Sasha and Malia.

This year’s turkeys are both 19-weeks old and weigh 45 pounds. They were raised by a group of students from Willmar High School in Minnesota.

More – White House blog – President Obama Pardons Peace & Liberty (the Turkeys)

The White House has released the Presidential Proclamation for Thanksgiving, 2011

Thanksgiving Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

…THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 24, 2011, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the United States to come together whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share our bounty with others.

Barack Obama
President of the United States of America

Full text of Thanksgiving Day 2011 Presidential Proclamation

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures &
Folklore about the Pilgrims
& America’s Thanksgiving
Nov 23 : 01 day till Thanksgiving

Did you know that for many Native American people, Thanksgiving is cause for mourning rather than celebration?

Although the First Thanksgiving included the Pilgrims’ Native American neighbors, that spirit of cooperation did not last long between the native people and the colonists.

The land and lives of the native people were pillaged and destroyed countless times during the early history of the United States of America. Racism and bigotry persist until this day. As a result, Thanksgiving has taken on greater historical significance for many Native Americans, who view that First Thanksgiving as the beginning of centuries of oppression and discrimination.

Related: The National Day of Mourning

Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, a time for family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons. We are delighted to invite you to partake in our Thanksgiving celebration. Our table is full this year, but we always have room for one more! So join us for a new Did You Know? each day as we count down to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday November 24, 2011.

Signup for our Did You Know? Holiday Countdown emails or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/holidaysnet (@holidaysnet)

National Game and Puzzle Week
A week for bringing the family together through playing games, doing puzzles, and generally spending quality family time together.

photo credit: via flickr