Outer Banks 105th Anniversary of Wright Brothers' Flight

Monday, December 22, 2008

Today my assignment was to travel to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC and report on the 105th anniversary celebration recognizing the world’s first successful sustained powered flight. I was very excited about attending this event especially since it would be my first visit to the memorial site. Taking my seat in the auditorium, I mentally prepared myself for a typical ceremony that would undoubtedly have it’s moments of boredom. But it was quite the opposite. The speakers were wonderful, the stories they told brought you back in time to a place and era much different than what we see around us today. I was struck by the realization that 21st century life and the world as a whole would be so much different if it weren’t for Orville and Wilbur Wright and their courage, tenacity and perseverance towards a personal goal that would change the course of history.

Sitting in the pavilion and looking around at it’s surroundings, listening as they recognize and thank people for coming I am made aware of who surrounds me; descendants of the Wright brothers, politicians of all rankings, many vets of many different wars, historians, pilots, and so many others who just came to be a part of this very important day. The guest speaker James C. May (President and Chief executive officer of Air transport Association) shared stories and quotes of many famous inventors of our time proving that anything is possible despite what we may believe. He also told several funny but true stories about the man that was inducted today into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine- Herbert D. Kelleher the founder of Southwest Airlines and the winner of many prestigious rewards. Herb is a funny down to earth man that credits his success to his employees. He is a humble man that deserves this honor. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the beautiful painting and for being inducted into the Shrine.



Today, I was moved today in a way that surprised me. Since the flight was cancelled due to the weather, I found time to walk up to the top of the hill where the memorial provided a stunning view of the Outer Banks and the path the first fight taken 105 years ago. Visitors can walk this “runway” and really let their imaginations “fly away!” Standing at this peak, I was profoundly moved by the fact that not only my life, but those living in all notions, would truly be so different if this day in history had not occurred. It also brought to mind my career as a flight attendant and how fortunate I was to travel over oceans and continents, visiting and experiencing wonderful and beautiful things all over this amazing world. I recently found myself jealous of my best friend who just got back from India. She sent me a picture of the Taj Mahal, and although some may not the Wright Brothers’ Memorial to that site, I do believe that the many wonders of the world could not be experienced by thousands of visitors if it were not for the invention of flight!

I would have to say in closing that this I strongly recommend a visit to The Wright Brothers National Memorial even if you are not a big history buff you can not help but to be moved the importance of this place not to mention the amazing view of the Outer Banks from sound to sea! I only wish I hadn’t waited so long but feel lucky that my first trip was on the 105th anniversary of the first flight and not to mention the 100th anniversary of the first passenger flight!
I hope you will visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial even if you are not a big buff. Not only will you be moved by actually standing on the same ground occupied by Orville and Wilbur Wright 105 years ago, but the view of the Outer Banks from sound to sea is nothing less than amazing! I should not have waited so long to visit this site and no doubt will climb that hill again and walk the runaway, thinking of that day 105 years ago. I just wanted to add the quote that is written on the monument with you:

“In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Conceived by Genius. Achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith.”

Inside the Pavilion

Painting Inside the PavilionFirst Flight

Path of First Flight

Runway

Amazing Message In a Bottle Story

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, my 11 year old son took our dog for a walk on the beach and found a message in the bottle, resting at the waters edge. It was a Gatorade bottle with the letter, 3 - $1 bills, a pack of Skittles and a pen. He picked it up because he saw the money and brought it home. When our family read the letter it brought us to tears. It speaks of how you should live your life, and suggested that the universe had chosen Thomas to receive the letter. The intriguing part is it was addressed to "the adventuresome beholder of this message" and written by someone who had less than two months to live. It is ironic that this message fits Thomas perfectly. I am certain this message was meant for our family. My father, Thomas's grandfather, died 4 weeks before after a relatively short illness. It really speaks to how important it is to be a good person, live a good life, and cherish the good things in life. It is a message important for everyone.

We can't figure out the last line: "monkey underpants." We googled that and they do make Monkey Underpants. We wonder if it isn't some message for the family. We wonder if this person shared this message with the family.

This experience also begs for the question to be answered, what message would you put in a bottle about life? How to live it? What kind of person to be? I think we all have important messages to share. This person obviously felt that it was important to share this message with the world, which is why we called the news and are sharing it with you now.

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Outer Banks Hotline Festival of Trees

Friday, December 5, 2008

Signs of Christmas are all around us on the Outer Banks. Heck, we even had a 3 hour snow storm the week before Thanksgiving! While traditions around the country start to kick in, one of the happiest traditions on the Outer Banks is the 20th annual Outer Banks Hotline Festival of Trees.

The Outer Banks Hotline is a non-profit human services organization which provides crisis intervention, temporary shelter, information and referrals to residents and visitors of the Outer Banks. The Festival of trees is their annual fundraiser where businesses and citizens donate and decorate Christmas trees which are auctioned off and the proceeds go to help with the many programs that Hotline sponsors.

The trees are georgeous, many are decorated in true Outer Banks style, and there are fabulous gift certificates, services, and gifts that go along with many of the trees.

It is truly a unique holiday tradition on the Outer Banks and it takes place this coming weekend at the Outer Banks Brewing Station.

I look forward to seeing you there. Happy Holidays!