Good morning. I want to thank you all for being here this morning. And I am proud today to be in Fayetteville, a city that is pulling out all the stops to honor the milestones of the past and challenge us all to the future. One hundred years ago, two brothers took a chance, believed in a dream and made history. In just 12 seconds, the world was changed forever. Man took to the skies, and the world became smaller; the boundaries were pushed outward; and the impossible became possible.

Today in Fayetteville we are surrounded by the results of 100 years of advancement and progress. Flight may have been born in Kitty Hawk, but Fayetteville is where it has blossomed. The past, the present and the future of flight are embodied in this city. The airplanes that surround us today are testament to the strong influence of commercial and private flight. And no one can forget that just a few miles away are two places where flight is used each and every day to keep our nation safe. Since 1918, our nation's finest and bravest at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base have harnessed the power of flight to defend freedom.

That's why I am honored to be in Fayetteville today to announce my Congressional resolution honoring the city and its Festival of Flight. I am introducing this resolution so that all in Congress and the entire nation can pay tribute to this city and its accomplishments. This city can be proud of its contributions to flight through the years. And it can also be proud of the hard work and dedication that many of its own have put into the Festival of Flight.

Now I know that the Festival of Flight won't take place until May. But, as we look forward to those eleven days of learning and celebrating, we should remember that the planning for this event has been going on for quite some time. The folks that are here today have put many long hours into creating success. Fayetteville's Festival of Flight will be the largest public event in the state marking the first flight. And it is one of only four events nationwide endorsed as a full partner by the United States Centennial of Flight Commission!

But this festival is about more than just that. It's about dreaming big and reaching for the stars. A year-long plan for increasing students' interest in flight has been put into place. Exposing these students to the wonder of flight and technology will spark their interest in science and mathematics and make learning come alive. In Congress, I passed legislation that directed NASA to develop educational materials about the first flight to help students learn science and math skills. Just as Orville and Wilbur Wright changed the world a century ago, so might these children change our world forever.

I am proud today to honor this city and its Festival of Flight with this legislation. Let this festival represent the strength of this city, the power of innovation and the hope for the future. Now I am pleased to introduce the mayor of this fine city, Marshall Pitts.

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