President Barack Obama issued his annual Thanksgiving Day message this morning.

The president, sitting in the Oval Office, said Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday.

"More than any other, it is uniquely American," he said. "Each of us brings our own cultures and traditions and recipes to the table, but we all share this day united by the gratitude of the bounty of this nation."

The president also made special mention of thanks to American troops deployed both overseas and at home this holiday for their service and dedication to the country.