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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 717
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MADE BY BAKER-VAWTER CO.
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"The medal was designed by Chaplain, the most eminent medallist of his time, and is a most beautiful work of art. It was awarded to Wilbur and Orville Wright, the first aviators to fly in a power-driven machine, February 10,1910; to Glenn H. Curtiss, whose investigations and engineering enterprises greatly promoted the art in its earlier years, on May 6, 1913; and to Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who conducted accurate researches into the properties of the air in respect to flight, on May 6, 1913.

"Following the advice of an eminent Committee of Award, the medal is now prepared for you, Sir, in recognition of your daring non-stop flight from New York to Paris, of May 20 and 21, 1927. I have the honor and pleasure of presenting the medal to you on behalf of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

"Permit me to add that the whole bearing and tendency of your life prior to, during, and since your memorable flight, as the light of publicity is more and more thrown upon it, has greatly enhanced the pleasure which my colleagues and I take in presenting you this award. May your future work go far to establish the dream of your desire, the wide and useful promotion of the subject of commercial aviation."

In reply, Colonel Lindbergh said:

"First, I want to express my appreciation of this honor which you have just given me, and also to thank you as the Board of the Smithsonian Institution for the interest you have taken in aeronautics. At a conference in St.Louis among those interested in these fields, it was decided that when the "Spirit of St.Louis was taken from service, it would be offered to the Smithsonian Institution for permanent exhibition here".

The Regents then had an opportunity to meet Col. Lindbergh, and a photograph was taken as a record of the occasion. The Colonel then retired and the regular order of business was taken up.
[[initialed]] CGA [[/initialed]]