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Recalling Flight History At Wright Brothers National Memorial

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Published Date

November 19, 2019
First Flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina/NPS

First Flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina/NPS

The 116th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina will be celebrated at Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center on December 17.

The morning celebration begins with a prelude band concert that visitors can enjoy leading up to the opening of the official program at 9:30 a.m. In addition to celebrating the historic first flight, this year’s event will focus on celebrating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift. The airlift lasted 15 months (1948-1949) as part of a joint operation, including members of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Transport Command, and British Royal Air Force. General Maryanne Miller, Commander of USAF Air Mobility Command, is the keynote speaker for the event.

Along with celebrating the end of the Berlin Airlift, the First Flight Society has chosen to pay tribute to Colonel S. “Hal” Halvorsen, USAF (Ret.) as its newest inductee into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine. The First Flight Society selected Col. Halvorsen to honor all the flight and support crews who participated in the Berlin Airlift. This year, the First Flight Society will reveal the portrait of Colonel Halvorsen, who many know as the “Candy Bomber,” at their membership meeting, and will place it on display in the Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center at 3 p.m.

The morning celebration will begin at 9:30 a.m. and include the following speakers and presentations:

  • The morning’s event will be presided over by Arthur Lamothe, president of the First Flight Society

  • Patriotic music provided by the First Flight High School Band from Kill Devil Hills,  NC

  • Presentation of colors by Camden High School ROTC

  • National Anthem led by Walter Swan, director of the ECSU Choir

  • Invocation by Father P. Nicholas Cottrill, pastor, Holy Family Catholic Church, Elizabeth City, NC

  • National Park Service welcome by Superintendent David Hallac

  • Remarks from Wright brothers descendant Paul Wright Jameson

  • Darrell Collins, historian, will speak on Wilbur and Orville Wright’s historic achievement on December 17, 1903

  • The morning’s proceedings will conclude with a wreath-laying ceremony, which is conducted by descendants of the witnesses of the first flight to honor the Wright brothers and is led by Lisa Ellstrom, witness decedent and First Flight Society Vice President

The celebration will include a small aviation flyover with a U.S. Navy C-60 and a U.S. Air Force C-17 at 9:45 a.m. (weather permitting). 

Park rangers will provide interpretive walks at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.

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