LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the 89th Anniversary of Amelia Mary
Earhart becoming the 16th woman to be issued a pilot's license by the
International Aeronautical Federation, to be observed on May 15, 2012

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize anniver-
saries of significance which exemplify the history and development of
the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate
the 89th Anniversary of Amelia Mary Earhart becoming the 16th woman to
be issued a pilot's license by the International Aeronautical Feder-
ation, to be observed on May 15, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Amelia Mary Earhart, who was born on July 24, 1897, was a
noted American aviation pioneer and author; and
WHEREAS, She was the first woman to receive the United States Distin-
guished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly
solo across the Atlantic Ocean; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding woman set numerous other records, wrote
best-selling books about her flying experiences, and was instrumental in
the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots;
and
WHEREAS, Amelia Earhart joined the faculty of the Purdue University
aviation department in 1935, as a visiting faculty member to counsel
women on careers and help inspire others with her love for aviation; and
WHEREAS, In Long Beach, on December 28, 1920, Amelia and her father
visited an airfield where Frank Hawks gave her a ride that would forever
change her life; she was quoted as saying "By the time I had got two or
three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly"; after that
10-minute flight, she immediately became determined to learn to fly; and
WHEREAS, Working at a variety of jobs, including photographer, truck
driver, and stenographer at the local telephone company, Amelia Earhart
managed to save $1,000 for flying lessons; and
WHEREAS, Rather than simply endorsing the products, Amelia Earhart
actively became involved in the promotions, especially in women's fash-
ions; at the age of 34, on the morning of May 20, 1932, she set off from
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland with the latest copy of a local newspaper,
which was intended to confirm the date of the flight; and
WHEREAS, She intended to fly to Paris in her single engine Lockheed
Vega 5B to emulate Charles Lindbergh's solo flight; after a flight last-
ing 14 hours, 56 minutes during which she contended with strong norther-
ly winds, icy conditions and mechanical problems, Amelia Earhart landed
in a pasture at Culmore, north of Derry, Northern Ireland; and
WHEREAS, The landing was witnessed by Cecil King and T. Sawyer; when a
farm hand asked her if she had flown far, she replied, from America;
today, the site is the home of a small museum, the Amelia Earhart
Centre; and
WHEREAS, As the first woman to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic,
Amelia Earhart received the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress,
the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French Government
and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society from President
Herbert Hoover; and
WHEREAS, As her fame grew, she developed friendships with many people
in high offices, most notably Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady from
1933-1945, who shared many of Earhart's interests and passions, espe-
cially women's causes; Amelia Earhart was a member of the National
Woman's Party, and an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment; and

WHEREAS, Amelia Earhart disappeared, on July 2, 1937, at the age of
39, over the Pacific Ocean, en route to Howland Island; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commemorate the anniversary of those historical events that occurred and
serve as lasting reminders of our rich and unique past; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the 89th Anniversary of Amelia Mary Earhart becoming the 16th
woman to be issued a pilot's license by the International Aeronautical
Federation, to be observed on May 15, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.