[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9382 of December 16, 2015

Wright Brothers Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The prospect of human flight captured the world's imagination for
centuries. From the ancient Greeks who marveled at the story of Icarus
soaring through the sky, to Leonardo da Vinci who sketched designs of
manned mechanical gliders, humanity's unyielding push skyward speaks to
our resolve to transcend limits and redefine what is possible. On
December 17, 1903, two American brothers reached a milestone in this
age-old pursuit by, after years of planning and research, successfully
launching the world's first flight of a powered airplane. On Wright
Brothers Day, our Nation commemorates this achievement and celebrates
the spirit of innovation that drives American inventors, entrepreneurs,
and scientists by reaffirming our support for them in their goals to
push the boundaries of human capability.
Our country's founding ideals of freedom of thought and expression are
not only necessary for upholding the inherent dignity and respect of
every individual, but they are also fundamental ingredients for
fostering scientific discovery. These values compelled the Pilgrims to
set out and seek new lives and prompted revolutionaries to forge a new
Nation. The great thinkers and innovators that have always moved America
forward have done so by challenging convention, sharing ideas, and
reimagining the future through new inventions and beliefs.
Before the 19th century, few thought human flight was an endeavor worth
investigating. But in the decades leading up to the 20th century, a
handful of devoted dreamers began conducting aeronautical research that
eventually fell on the ears of two enthusiastic bicycle mechanics from
Dayton, Ohio, who would push past what others deemed impossible and take
to the sky, spark a new and lasting industry, and change the course of
history. Wilbur and Orville Wright spent their childhood

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tinkering and building, their passions fueled by their mother, Susan,
who shared these interests and had considerable mechanical skills. The
brothers opened a bicycle shop, where they honed their understanding of
the concepts of balance, control, aerodynamics, and lightweight yet
sound structures--laying the foundation for their groundbreaking
achievement. Years of meticulous observation, building, and
experimentation culminated on one frigid, windy morning on a sandy beach
in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where the Wright brothers made their
successful flight.
The invention of the airplane not only contributed to our understanding
of physics and engineering--it profoundly altered our world. People and
goods began moving across the globe at an unprecedented pace, new
industries and fields of discovery sprang to life, and advances in
aviation launched a new era of possibility in which our countrymen would
walk on the moon just 66 years after that first 12 second flight.
Today, American entrepreneurs and scientists are continuing the legacy
of the Wright brothers by making new discoveries and pushing
boundaries--from the furthest reaches of our universe to the greatest
mysteries of the human brain. To keep our Nation on the forefront of
breakthroughs that will define the future, we must continue investing in
pioneering research, innovative startups, and programs that encourage
science, technology, engineering, and math education for our daughters
and sons. And we must keep fostering an atmosphere in our communities
and classrooms where lifetime quests for knowledge are encouraged, where
glimmers of curiosity are sparked, and where the next generation of
explorers and inventors are celebrated. On Wright Brothers Day, let us
recommit to cultivating the insatiable hunger for advancement that takes
humanity to new frontiers, and let us stand with those who never stop
challenging the limits of what we know to be possible.
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, 2015, 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 fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA