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

 
PROCLAMATION 7856--DEC. 17, 2004
Proclamation 7856 of December 17, 2004
Wright Brothers Day, 2004
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On Wright Brothers Day, we honor the achievement and imagination of
Orville and Wilbur Wright, two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio, who
changed the world with their optimism, creativity, and persistence. On
this day, we recall a monumental event in the history of our Nation and
in the story of mankind.
On a cold December morning in 1903 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina,
a small wood and canvas aircraft sent America on a journey far beyond
the sands of Kitty Hawk. The flight spanned 120 feet and lasted just 12
seconds, yet it ushered in a new era of unimaginable advances in
aviation and aerospace technology. Today, air travel is vital to our
country, helping bring people together and sustain our security. In
addition, the aviation industry strengthens our economy by supporting
millions of jobs.
The spirit that led the Wright Brothers to powered flight continues
today in America's space program. From providing surveys of the sun to
images of the planets, our spacecraft are exploring the outer edges of
our solar system and revolutionizing our view of the universe. Under my
Vision for Space Exploration Program, we will proudly carry on the
Wright Brothers' tradition of innovation. As we embark on the next
century of flight, that spirit of discovery will help our Nation and the
world realize the full promise of tomorrow.
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.

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NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2004, 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 four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
ninth.
GEORGE W. BUSH