By Maddy Wagner, News Editor
The copper bust of Orville Wright that was stolen from the Wright Brothers Memorial on Oct. 12 has been found, according to a National Park Service (NPS) press release. A beachgoer called law enforcement on the afternoon of Oct. 15 to report that the missing bust was seen tucked in the dunes on a Kill Devil Hills beach near 909 S. Virginia Dare Trail.
According to an NPS press release, the heavy granite base the bust was mounted to was also knocked over and damaged during the Oct. 12 incident.
“While we are pleased that the bust of Orville Wright has been found, we are fully investigating this incident in order to determine who stole the bust and caused damage to its granite mounting base,” National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac said in the press release.
First Flight senior Izzy Requa interns at the Wright Brothers Memorial. Requa said that everyone she works with was hoping it would be found, and they all have their own theories about what happened.
“It’s not really something you can display in your living room without someone being like, ‘Yeah, cool, so where did you get that?’ ” Requa said.
The Class of 2020 was scheduled to take its class picture at the Wright Brothers Memorial on Wednesday, but rain forced the photo inside. School officials are hoping to reschedule the monument photo at a later date, but at least for now, it appears as though Orville won’t be a part of this First Flight tradition.
“I was disappointed because poor Orville doesn’t get to be in it now,” Requa said.
Requa said that this incident is not the first time vandalism has taken place at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. In the 1980s, she said the busts were stolen and then later dropped back off, wrapped up in a towel.
The NPS is continuing its investigation and is asking that anyone with information that could help solve this case to please contact Dare County Community CrimeLine, or the National Park Services tip line. Homeowners and business owners in the area of the Wright Brothers National Memorial and 909 S. Virginia Dare Trail are being asked to review security camera footage and report any suspicious activity from the night of Oct. 12 through the afternoon of Oct. 15.
Those with information can call or text the tip line at 888-653-0009, or online at https//:www.nps.gov/isb and click “submit tip.”
Junior Maddy Wagner can be reached at 21wagnerma13@daretolearn.org.
