Evening star., 1909-06-06
HONOR TO AV|ATORS
Gold Medals to Be Presented
to the Wright Brothers.
WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY
First Occasion of the Kind in the
Country's History.
LUNCHEON AT COSMOS CLUB
Affair Planned by the Aero Club of
America-Exhibition Flight
Is Unlikely.
WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY
LUNCHEON AT COSMOS CLUB

The discovery Of the art of flying will
be celebrated at the White House Thurs
day. when President Taft will present to
Wilbur and Orville Wright the gold med
ais of the Aero Club of America. 1t will
be the first time that an American in
ventor has received national recognition
of his work by being accorded reception
at the Executive Mansion. The Aero Club
of America. of which the Wrights have
been made honorary members. intends to
make the presentation of its medals an
important event in history.
Through editorials In the leading news
papers throughout the country the morn
ing OF June 10 the interest of all of the
people of the United States will be as
sured. These editorials. of which advance
copies have been obtained by the Aero
Club. will be presented to the Wrights in
book form at the time they receive their
medals. Letters from governors of vari-
Gus states and the leading scientific bodies
appropriate to the occasion will also be
presented to the two inventors of the sue
cessful aeroplane.
Exhibition Flight Unlikely.
1t had been intended to increase public
interest in the occasion by having the
Wrghts make a flight in their aeroplane
from the ellipse south Of the White House,
but as 1t is hardly probably that the ma
chine which they are building to replace
that which was wrecked at Fort Myer
last September will be completed in time.
this part of the plans may have to be
postponed until Orvile Wright resumes
his flights at Fort Myer for the govern
ment. The Aero Club of Washington, of
which Thomas F. Walsh is president and
which has taken up aeronautics with a
view to furthering the advancement of
science will tender a luncheon at the Cos
mos Club to the Wright brothers and the
members of the Aero Club Of America.
which has its headquarters in New York
city.
to make the presentation of the Aero
Clubs medals before he left the White
House. but the Wrights We're in Europe.
where unusual honors were shown to
them and where royalty paid court to
them. 1t therefore falls to President Taft
to give the Wrghts the first public recog-
milton In America for accomplishing some
thing which has occupied the attention
and efforts of men for four thousand
years.
Notable Gathering Expected.
The presentation will be made in the
east room at 2:3O in the afternoon. Over
been sent out by the Aero Club Of Amer
lea. and the gathering promises to be
one OF the most distinguished that has
ever been seen within the historic Ex-
ecutive Mansion.
Members of the cabinet. eminent states
men. members of Congress, foreign dip
lomats, distinguished scientists and en-
gineers and others will be present to
honor the two modest but intrepid Ohio
ans. 1t will be an unusual tribute to
American energy. and perseverance,. In
presentation the Aero Club of America
says: 'One fact that comes out strongly
is the popularity of the Wrights. The
modesty with which they bear the bur-
den of the fame of their marvellous
achievements: their living up to the spirit
and letter of their contract: the SIM
plicity of their lives, have endeared them
to the people
Planned by the Aero Club.
The idea Of presenting the Wrights
with gold medals was decided upon by
the Aero Club of America at its annual
meeting last year. 1t is said that the
medals are the most artistic and valuab BILE
that have been presented to the Wrights
They were made at cost of s23oO,
which was subscribed by the members
subscription being limited to $50
Following President Taft's presentation
address Representative Herbert Parsons
of New York will speak for the Aero
Club of America. The luncheon at the
Cosmos Club will be at 1880
The Aero Club of America was the
first organization of it's kind established
in this country, and has fostered the
numerous clubs devoted to avia ton and
ballooning throughout the country 1t
grew out Of the Automobile Club of
America. and counts among it's members
prominent scientists artists, engineers.
fnancierS and sportsmen.
The committee which has had charge
of the medals and the presentation cere-
monies consists of De Witt e. Morrell.
chairman; Alan r. Hawley. Charles NJ.
Manly, Albert F. Zahm. Peter Cooper
Hewitt, James Means, Octave Chanute.
Charles J. Glidden. Henry B. Hersey.
Alexander Graham Bell, Gutzon Borglum,
D. J. McComb and Christopher j. Lake