[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 119, 109th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 7969--DEC. 16, 2005
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 Amer

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ican 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.
GEORGE W. BUSH