[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 242 (Monday, December 17, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 65089-65090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31208]



[[Page 65087]]

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Part V





The President





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Proclamation 7514--Wright Brothers Day, 2001
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 242 / Monday, December 17, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 65089]]

                Proclamation 7514 of December 13, 2001

                
Wright Brothers Day, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On December 17, 1903, from the dunes near Kitty Hawk, 
                North Carolina, Orville Wright made the first manned 
                flight in an engine-powered aircraft. Though the flight 
                only covered 120 feet and lasted just 12 seconds, 
                Orville and his brother Wilbur Wright changed history 
                on that cold and gusty winter day.

                Success had not come easily to the Wright brothers. 
                Many thought powered flight impossible; and skeptics 
                called the Wrights dreamers for even entertaining the 
                idea. Undeterred, the Wrights spent years in study, 
                analyzing the flight of birds and experimenting with 
                model airplanes in their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. 
                After many trials and errors, the Wright brothers 
                finally achieved a controlled flight and opened the 
                door to a new world.

                On December 17 of each year, we honor the Wright 
                brothers for their contributions to our Nation. Their 
                invention of powered flight made the world community 
                more connected. We have since traveled to the Moon and 
                back, and space shuttles orbit our planet. All of these 
                amazing advances can be traced back to that windy day 
                at Kitty Hawk when the indomitable will of the Wrights 
                persevered to triumph over the supposed impossible.

                Air travel now is an essential part of this Nation's 
                everyday life. This proud industry will endure through 
                the new challenges presented by the tragedies of 
                September 11. Joining together as a Nation, we will 
                continue to strengthen security while maintaining the 
                economic and social benefits of an efficient air 
                transportation system.

                This Wright Brothers Day we salute all the scientific 
                pioneers and visionaries who, despite the critics, have 
                over come seemingly insurmountable odds and made great 
                advances for man. The Wright brothers' perseverance and 
                creativity can serve as an inspiration for those 
                inventors who will take us to new heights in the 21st 
                century.

                The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 
                17, 1963 (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143), 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, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2001, as Wright 
                Brothers Day.

[[Page 65090]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand one, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-31208
Filed 12-14-01; 10:38 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P