Senators Leland and Basham offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 137.

            A resolution honoring the life and memory of Charles Edward Taylor, the world’s first airplane mechanic, and recognizing May 24, 2006, as Aviation Maintenance Technician Day.

            Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor was born on May 24, 1869; and

            Whereas, In 1902, Charles Edward Taylor began working as a machinist for Orville and Wilbur Wright at the Wright Cycle Company in Dayton, Ohio; and

            Whereas, Within six weeks, Charles Edward Taylor, using only a lathe and drill press, built the first engine used to power the Wright Flyer; and

            Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor's ingenuity earned him a place in aviation history when the Wright brothers successfully flew their airplane on December 17, 1903; and

            Whereas, After this historic event, Charles Edward Taylor continued to design engines for the Wright brothers and later taught them to build aircraft engines; and

            Whereas, In 1908, Charles Edward Taylor accompanied Orville Wright to Fort Meyer, Virginia, for test flights by the United States government, and in 1909, accompanied Wilbur Wright to New York for the Hudson-Fulton flights; and

            Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor served as lead mechanic for Calbraith (Cal) Rodgers, who made his first transcontinental flight in 1911, and had a successful career in aviation maintenance for more than 60 years; and

            Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration with the establishment of the Charles Edward Taylor Master Mechanic Award, which recognizes persons with 50 years or more of aviation maintenance experience; and

            Whereas, Charles Edward Taylor died in 1956; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we hereby honor the life and memory of Charles Edward Taylor and express our appreciation for the invaluable contributions he made to aviation; and be it further

            Resolved, That we encourage the citizens of the Michigan to recognize May 24, 2006, as Aviation Maintenance Technician Day in honor of Charles Edward Taylor; and be it further

            Resolved, That we urge the citizens of the United States of America and the Federal Aviation Administration Great Lakes Region to participate in activities commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the Wright brothers flight; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Federal Aviation Administration Great Lakes Region as a token of our esteem.