Obama makes final Thanksgiving turkey pardon

President Barack Obama on Wednesday officially pardoned two turkeys as part of a Thanksgiving ritual but this time his nephews stood in place of his daughters who he said still believe in bad puns.

Malia and Sasha, by the way, are thankful that this is my final presidential turkey pardon. What I haven't told them yet is that we are going to do this every year from now on. No cameras. Just us. Every year. No way I'm cutting this habit cold turkey, Obama said.

Obama appeared with two his nephews Austin and Aaron Robinson. Obama said that Austin and Aaron, who, unlike Malia and Sasha, have not yet been turned cynical by Washington.

This year Obama pardoned two turkeys, Tater and and its alternate Tot, both 18-week old, 40-pound turkeys. As part of the naming process, Iowa school children submitted pairs of names for this year's turkeys.

After the pardoning, the turkeys will be on display for visitors at their permanent home at Virginia Tech's newly built 'Gobblers Rest' exhibit where they will be cared for by students and veterinarians in the university's Animal and Poultry Sciences Department.

Thanksgiving, Obama said, is a reminder of the source of national strength that out of many, they are one; that they are bound not by any one race or religion, but rather by an adherence to a common creed, that all of them are created equal.

Later the President and First Lady were joined by Sasha Obama, Austin and Aaron Robinson serving Thanksgiving meals to residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Washington.