Wright Brothers Day, 2005

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7969 of December 16, 2005

Wright Brothers Day, 2005

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On December 17, 1903, a wooden aircraft lifted from the
sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, remaining airborne
for 12 seconds and covering a distance of 40 yards.
That first powered flight was a heroic moment in our
Nation's history and in the story of mankind. On Wright
Brothers Day, we celebrate the journey that began at
Kitty Hawk and commemorate the imagination, ingenuity,
and determination of Orville and Wilbur Wright.

The American experience in air and space is an epic of
endurance and discovery. The past 102 years have
brought supersonic flight, space travel, and the
exploration of the Moon and Mars. Charles Lindbergh's
solo, nonstop passage across the Atlantic Ocean and the
record-breaking flights of Amelia Earhart captured the
public's imagination and encouraged the growth of
aviation. Americans such as Chuck Yeager, the first man
to break the sound barrier, and Alan Shepard, the first
American in space, and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin,
the first men on the Moon, led our Nation on a voyage
of discovery. These pioneers explored the unknown and
brought the bold dream of the Wright Brothers into the
future. Their dedication and skill and that of
countless others reflect the finest values of our
country and have helped ensure that the United States
continues to lead the world in flight.

Americans will always be risk-takers for the sake of
exploration. As we remember the achievements of the
Wright Brothers, we look forward to challenging the
frontiers of knowledge in a new century.

The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December
17, 1963 (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143) as amended, has
designated December 17 of each year as ``Wright
Brothers Day'' and has authorized and requested the
President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the
people of the United States to observe that day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim December
17, 2005, as Wright Brothers Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two
thousand five, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

(Presidential Sig.)B