December 17 Celebration at Wright Brothers National Memorial

Date: December 10, 2014
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-475-9034

On Wednesday, December 17, 2014, the First Flight Society and the National Park Service will continue the tradition of honoring the accomplishments of Wilbur and Orville Wright at the 111st anniversary celebration of the first heavier-than-air powered flight.The event takes place at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center and Park entrance fees will be waived for the day.

Scheduled events for the day include:

·9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m.: Observance begins with a patriotic musical prelude by the Northeastern High School Band from Elizabeth City, NC, and a meet and greet with members of the Wright family.

·10:00 a.m. –10:30 a.m.: The wreath-laying ceremony takes place on the exact spot where the famous first flight occurred.During this event, the Wright brothers and the witnesses of the first flight will be honored by the National Park Service, members of the First Flight Society, and the descendants of the witnesses.

·10:35 a.m. –11:15 a.m.: Aviation flyover tribute to the Wright brothers.

·11:15 a.m. –12:00 p.m.: The formal program to honor the Wrights' achievement. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President and Founder of Women in Aviation, International.She will pay tribute to Col. Mary S. Feik, Civil Air Patrol, this year's inductee into the First Flight Society's Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine.

Throughout the day, the park's museum exhibits and activities provide an atmosphere of enjoyable learning about one of the greatest inventions of the 20^th century.The visitor center opens at 9:00 a.m.The 25-minute interpretive talks take place in the Flight Room Auditorium at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.Children are invited to participate in the park's Junior Ranger program.

For more information about the event, call Wright Brothers National Memorial at [phone].

-NPS-