Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3769

 123STA T . 3 749PROCL A M AT I O N8 4 6 6 —DE C. 16 , 2 0 09 Proclam a ti o n846 6o fDe cem b er 1 6 ,20 0 9WrightB r o th e r sDay,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation For12sec o nd son D ece mb er1 7, 1 903, aw ooden a i rcra ft too k tot h e skies abo v e K itt yH awk, N orth C aro l ina, liftin g two brothers from Day - ton, O hio, to their p lace in history .T heir sing u lar triumph triggered a revolution in transportation that would bridge the vast distances be- tween continents and forever alter our world. Today, we honor the en- during A merican spirit of creativity and innovation that made the W right B rothers ’ maiden flight possible. S elf-taught and financed by the proceeds of their bicycle shop, the Wright Brothers’ success embodies our Nation’s proud tradition of en- trepreneurship. I n pursuit of the ageless dream of controlled flight, they persevered through great challenges. E arly design failures, a skep- tical public, and the sheer danger of their endeavors often tempted the brothers to q uit, but they forged ahead with firm resolve and bold e x - perimentation to complete their ascent to greatness. In these challenging times, the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright re- minds us of what can be accomplished when imagination is j oined with tenacity. Their spirit lives on in every garage and basement work- shop where American innovators still tinker, invent, and discover. The next Wright Brothers are among us today, working tirelessly toward a breakthrough that will spark a new industry and improve countless lives. We must do all we can to support our Nation’s entrepreneurs. As we work toward a bright future powered by cutting-edge ideas and new technologies, we celebrate this day by looking back to the Wright Brothers, whose achievements affirm the limitless potential of Amer- ican ingenuity. The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 19 6 3, as amended ( 77 Stat. 4 02 36 U .S.C. 143 ) , has designated December 17 of each year as ‘ ‘Wright Brothers Day’’ and has authori z ed and requested the P resident to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. NOW, THE R EFORE, I, BARACK OBA M A, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2009, as Wright Brothers Day. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of December, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. BARACK OBAMA