    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9973 of December 16, 2019

    Wright Brothers Day, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    On December 17, 1903, two visionaries, brothers from Dayton, Ohio,
    ushered in the dawn of the age of aviation on a wind-swept beach in
    Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wilbur and Orville Wright changed the course
    of history with the successful maiden flight of a manned, engine-powered
    aircraft. On Wright Brothers Day, we honor this remarkable achievement,
    commend the brothers' ingenuity, innovation, passion, and determination,
    and celebrate the incalculable contributions of aviation to our Nation
    and the world.
    When the Wright Flyer safely landed near Kill Devil Hills, it marked the
    first step of an aviation journey of countless American pioneers to
    conquer the skies. In the 116 years since this groundbreaking flight, we
    have made revolutionary strides in aviation, such as Amelia Earhart
    crossing the Atlantic and Wiley Post circling the globe. This same
    fearless American spirit eventually propelled us beyond Earth's
    atmosphere into space and even placed humans onto the surface of the
    Moon in an ongoing pursuit of discovery and exploration. Earlier this
    year, our Nation commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11
    mission and remembered the triumphant courage and patriotism displayed
    by those intrepid astronauts. On that remarkable voyage, Commander Neil
    Armstrong carried a small patch of fabric from the wing of the Wright
    Brothers' 1903 ``Flyer.''
    The progress and success of aviation are among our country's greatest
    achievements. Aviation connects people, commerce, and industry, not
    merely across the country but across oceans and continents. The
    economic, strategic, and social benefits of aviation are critical to our
    national security and prosperity. That is why my Administration is
    committed to ensuring that the United States remains the world leader in
    aviation and aerospace innovation. We are improving the design of
    supersonic jets, for example, and preparing for their reintroduction to
    civilian flight while also embracing the growth and potential of
    unmanned aircraft. By working with leaders in the industry, we are
    advancing the exploratory and commercial capabilities of space
    technology and cultivating ideas that could revolutionize the future of
    transportation, enhance national security and defense, and increase
    efficiency in commerce and emergency management.
    Throughout our history, our Republic has been characterized by great men
    and women, like Wilbur and Orville, who dared to push boundaries,
    challenge traditional thinking, explore unchartered paths, and embrace
    the power of possibility. The Wright Brothers' airborne adventure into
    the North Carolina sky is one of our Nation's seminal milestones and a
    shining example of the power of the indomitable American spirit, which
    continues to fuel the next chapter of our history at sea, on land, and
    in the skies and beyond.
    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

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    the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and
    activities.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2019, 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 nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP