Wed, Dec 31, 2003
A Troubled Aviation Industry Celebrates 100 Years Of
Flight
In a year marked by
increased paranoia on the part of governments and air passengers,
when the industry was in one of its worst slumps ever and
terrorists threatened to again turn commercial flights into guided
weapons, the world tried hard to put it all aside and celebrate the
Centennial Of Flight. But, alas, even the weather turned against
us. Of the December 16th ceremonies under rainy skies at Kill Devil
Hills (NC), we wrote:
Gray sky, chilly air and pouring rain did not dampen the sprit
of an enthusiastic crowd Dec. 17 as they awaited the arrival of the
event’s most anticipated guest speaker. President George W.
Bush was scheduled to address the crowd at the Wright Brothers
National Memorial on Dec. 17, the last day of the yearlong
centennial of flight celebration.
Around 9:20 a.m., the thunderous roar of five Marine Corps
helicopters cut through the sounds of patriotic music, crowd noise
and the reverberation of public-service announcements. Heads turned
toward the aircraft above the tree line just west of the stage.
Despite miserable weather and rumors he would not show, the
president had arrived.
Following an introduction by Secretary of the Interior Gale
Norton, the president took the stage.
“For as long as there is human flight, we will honor the
achievement on a cold morning on the outer banks of North Carolina,
by two young brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright,” Bush
said.
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