On the Fouth of July, remember: "To be an American, whether by birth or choice, is a high privilege. The ideals of July 4th, 1776, still speak to all humanity. And the revolution declared that day goes on. Millions across the world are free today because of the unselfish courage of American veterans. And today we honor our veterans."

George W. Bush, July 4th, 2003 in Warren County, Ohio

Welcome to Warren County, named for Dr. Joseph Warren, the man who sent Paul Revere on his ride and who ultimately died at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

It was in nearby Dayton, on Huffman Prairie Flying Field, that in 1904 and 1905 Wilbur and Orville Wright flew their first turn, circle, and figure eight, and solved the secrets of aerodynamics in order to develop the first truly practical airplane in the world.

Among the students of the Wright Brothers' flying school were H. Roy Brown, the Canadian ace credited with shooting down the Red Baron in World War I, and Henry "Hap" Arnold, who led the US Air Forces in World War II.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field is now Wright-Patterson Air Force Base: birthplace, home and future of aerospace, with a long and admirable history of flight-testing that spans the remarkable period from the Wright Brothers' first flight to the most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles and the Space Age.

Happy Independence Day, America!