December 17 Event Coordinated by U.S. Centennial
of Flight Commission
Recognizes the Character and Spirit behind Accomplishments in Flight
Washington, D.C.
December 12, 2002
Neil Armstrong and Sen. John Glenn will be among
a group of 12 individuals helping to kick off the national Centennial
of Flight: Born of Dreams – Inspired by Freedom commemoration
on Tuesday, December 17 at the Smithsonian’s National Air
and Space Museum. The group will represent millions of men and women
who have influenced aviation and spaceflight. The event, being coordinated
by the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, will begin at 9 a.m.
and will mark the start of a yearlong national celebration honoring
a century of powered flight in which a variety of organizations
are taking part.
In addition to Armstrong and Glenn, the group
of representatives includes:
Dr. Vance Coffman, chairman and chief executive officer of Lockheed
Martin; Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company founder (represented by great-grandson
Edsel B. Ford II); Gen. David Lee “Tex” Hill, World
War II ace; Amelia Earhart, represented by niece Amy Kleppner; Charles
Lindbergh, represented by grandson Erik Lindbergh; Dr. Shannon Lucid,
NASA’s Chief Scientist; Pamela Melroy, NASA astronaut; Jody
McCarrell, president of the Ninety Nines; Col. Charles McGee, representing
the Tuskegee Airmen; and Wilbur and Orville Wright, represented
by great- grand niece Amanda Wright Lane.
“These pioneers of flight represent the people behind the
machines that took us off the ground,” said Gen. J.R. (Jack)
Dailey, director of the National Air and Space Museum and chairman
of the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission. “The character
and spirit they share will propel future pioneers through the next
100 years of discovery.”
Actor John Travolta will serve as the master of
ceremonies for the event. Other speakers include: Gen. Dailey, FAA
Administrator Marion Blakey and NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe.
A representative from the U.S. Department of Transportation has
been invited to pay special tribute to the Wright brothers.
The U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission was created by Congress
to expand national and international interest in the commemoration
of the centennial of powered flight. The Commission is coordinating
a national outreach campaign and advising the President, Congress
and federal agencies on the most effective ways to encourage and
promote national and international participation in 2003. More information
about the Commission and the many activities planned for 2003 can
be found at www.centennialofflight.gov.
Contact:
Christian Markow
U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission
804.675.8153
cmarkow@crtpr.com
Julie Breissinger
U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission
804.675.8167
jbreissinger@crtpr.com
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