The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1928-12-14

"fl2L Is Ltl6 ALI beSu luio
Memorial ASsociatlon2 How did it
originator What are It's objectS2
These questions are pertinent end.
here, briefly, Is the answer:
To begin with, tho Act Of the 6eth
Congress providing for a Wright
Memorial at Kill Devil Hills was
rather vague in It's phrasing. No
cost limit was specified and either q
simple marker or heroic monument
might be the result. There was pre-
valent in Washington an idea that
on account of the isolated position
of the Kill Devil Hills and their In
accessibility, simple marker would
be sufficient. Secretary Of Com
merce Hoover was Of tho opinion
that If any considerable sum OF
money was spent. II should be ap-
piled to q Coast Guard Station, WITH
a simple tablet marking tho spot
of the first Wright flight.
A little group of men tn Elizabeth
City, mindful of the Importance OF
the contribution Of Wilbur end Or.
vile Wright 10 human progress and
human history, and mindful TOO OF
the value OF a great national memo
rial In our own coast country. con-
ceived the idea of organizing q
Wright Memorial Association.
The object of this association was
to arouse local. state and national
interest In the proposed memorial
and be of service TO the government
and TO all friends of acronautics IN
promoting a suitable commcmora-
ton of the first successful flight
of man In a heavier-than-air power
driven flying machine.
Before the government could be
/ persuaded to construct a notable
memorial at XIII Devil Hills, XIII
Devil Hills must bc made easily ac-
cesSible by motor TO all Americans.
Surely there was important work for
Memorial Association.
/ Aud so on August 20, 1928 there
was a meeting In Elizabeth City OF
community leaders from many
counties In Northeastern North
/. Carolina and there was organized
the XIII Deyl, Hills Memorial AsSo-
citation. THIS Association has work.
ed necessarily. nom It's inception
for a paved highway to Kill Devil
Hills and a bridge across Currituck
Sound. 1t persuaded tho State
! Highway Commission 10 include Kill
Devil Hills In It's State wide road
building program and has every
assurance now that a bridge across
Currituck Sound and a paved highs
way all the way to Kill Devil Hills.
connecting with the States great
highway system will be a reality
within another year or two.
( The XIII Devil Hills Memorial
/ Association is a non-profit patriotic
organization that has justified It's
existence by its works. Many not
able Americans are Identified with
! it. And but for such an organlza-
| ton the celebration at XIII Devil
Hills next Monday might have been
not only mpracticablc but impos-
sible. Many agencies set in motion
and directed by this Association
have made possible the bringing Of
Mr.. Orvillc Wright and tho dele
ference on AeronauticS 10 Kill Devil
gates and guests Of tho World Con-
Hills next Monday.
! The officers and national advisory
council of the Kill Devil Hills
Memorial association follows:
w. o. Saunders, President.
]. C. B. EhringhauS. First Vice
President. l6
Dudley w. Baglcy. Second Vice
President. r..a.. .t.5
! Thos. Nixon. Third Vice PreSi-
dent.
w. G. Gather, SccretaEy-Treas.
National Advisory Council
Chairman Congressman LindSa,
C. Warren, of North Carolina.
Vice Chairman Senator Hiram
Bingham. of Connecticut ,@'..2
Col. Chas. A. Lildbergh. -.
Hon. ChaS. G. Dawes, of Illinois
Vice President of the United States
Hon. Nicholas Longworth, Of Ohio
Speaker House of Representatives.
i Hon Herbert Hoover, of California
President-electo of the United States
i Commander Richard Evelyn Byrd
of Virginia.
General John J. PerShing, U. s
A.
4 Mr.. Howard Coffin, of Michigan.
Governor Angus w. Mclean, oi
North Carolina. s.
Senator F. M. Simmons, OF NOrtf
Carolina. .l.f5
Governor Jonn II. Trunlbull, o!