Washington, D.C.
August 29, 2002

Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003, a partner in the national Centennial of Flight: Born of Dreams - Inspired by Freedom celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight, recently broke ground on the Deeds Legacy Plaza. The future site of the 2003 Inventing Flight Centennial celebration, the plaza will serve as the 'front door' to Celebration Central at Deeds Point.

"The groundbreaking is an important milestone for Inventing Flight
and the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission," J.R. Dailey, chairman of the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, said. "Excitement for the celebration is really starting to build, and will only continue to gain momentum as we approach 2003. The Deeds Legacy Plaza will serve as a wonderful tribute to the Wright brothers and to the tremendous community effort that has gone into making the Dayton celebration a success." Through landscape design and public art elements, the Legacy Plaza will tell the story of the dream of flight. Interpretive elements include the Wright brothers in Dayton; Dayton and Ohio firsts in the one hundred years since the Wright brothers' work; and a commemoration of Dayton's centennial of flight celebration.

Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003 was founded in 1989 to promote aviation, the Wright brothers, and especially Dayton, Ohio's role in the birth and future of aviation. The height of activities will occur from July 3-20, 2003, when Deeds Park will be transformed into Celebration Central. Activities will include: a hot air balloon race, Dayton Air Show, International Airship Meet, National Aviation Hall of Fame Ceremonies, commissioned symphonic works, photography exhibits, Inventing Flight Class of 2003, curriculum and choreographed dance works.

The activities in Dayton will be an important part of the Centennial
of Flight: Born of Dreams - Inspired by Freedom celebration being
coordinated by the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission. More information about the Commission, which was Congressionally mandated to expand national and international interest in the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight, can be found online at www.centennialofflight.gov.

Christian Markow
U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission
804.675.8153
cmarkow@crtpr.com

Natasha Baker
Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003
937.913.2837
nbaker@dkburnap.com