    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 8617--DEC. 17, 2010

    Proclamation 8617 of December 17, 2010
    Wright Brothers Day, 2010
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    On December 17, 1903, after years of determination and creativity,
    Orville and Wilbur Wright's wooden aircraft sailed the steady winds of
    Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and conquered the age-old dream of manned
    flight. That day, the two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, could only imagine
    what we now know--that those moments aloft in the North Carolina sky
    would send mankind on a revolutionary journey and modernize
    transportation. On this day, we celebrate their historic accomplishment,
    the limitless potential they represent, and the vision they spurred for
    the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.
    The Wright brothers' monumental achievement solidified their place in
    history and earned them status as American and global icons. They

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    moved aviation from a curiosity into an indispensable global industry.
    Self-taught and relentless in their years of work and experimentation,
    these brothers were a shining illustration of the limitless capacity of
    human intellect and the resourcefulness of the American entrepreneur. As
    part of an era of great visionaries, Orville and Wilbur Wright helped
    hasten an age of discovery and great technological advancement. Their
    unyielding pursuit of powered flight stands as a proud example for young
    and curious minds eager to transform and advance the world around them.
    Just as the Wright brothers' breakthrough led to a new industry that
    forever altered our world, a new generation of space pioneers is now
    following in their footsteps and setting our Nation's sights even
    higher. Working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    and the Federal Aviation Administration, leaders in spaceflight are
    making great progress in ushering in a new commercial space industry
    that can help boost our economy, create new jobs, and take Americans to
    soaring new heights.
    America's long history of technological leadership and innovation has
    been the product of learning and ingenuity. To maintain this tradition
    and propel it forward, America must empower the next generation of doers
    and makers. We must ensure our Nation's students receive the world-class
    mathematics and science education they need to challenge the boundaries
    of human knowledge and realize tomorrow what we can only dream today. We
    must also ready our children to become the entrepreneurs whose tenacity
    and creativity will power the engine of our Nation's economy for
    centuries to come. On Wright Brothers Day, in remembrance of that
    celebrated flight, let us recommit to preparing the next generation of
    scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to create a future
    of promise and progress.
    The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963, as
    amended (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, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2010, as Wright Brothers Day.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
    December, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
    fifth.
    BARACK OBAMA