Although one of the turkeys will receive the coveted pardon up to the public vote this year, neither will be on the dinner table for Thanksgiving. Both birds will be shipped off to retirement at Gobblers Rest at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, CNN said. /VCG Photo

The presentation of a turkey to the White House began in 1947 when President Harry Truman was in office. But it wasn't until 1989 that the tradition of pardoning the birds began, starting with a proclamation signed by President George H.W. Bush. /VCG Photo