Kansas Delegation Pens Op-ed on Amelia Earhart Ahead of Today’s Statue Unveiling

(Washington, D.C., July 27, 2022) – Today, the entire Kansas delegation – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. and Jerry Moran; U.S. Representatives Ron Estes (KS-4), Sharice Davids (KS-3), Jake LaTurner (KS-2), and Tracey Mann (KS-1) – penned an op-ed for the Topeka Capital Journal about Amelia Earhart ahead of today’s statue unveiling. After waiting more than 20 years, Amelia Earhart’s statue will replace fellow Atchison native and former U.S. Senator John Ingalls as a part of the renowned collection of statues in the U.S. Capitol. She will join President Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th President and Abilene native, as one of Kansas’ tribute statues. The Kansas delegation said in part,

“…Amelia flew to new heights and traveled longer distances than ever before, but Atchisonians, Kansans and Americans are honoring Amelia today out of a shared admiration for her spirit. Her fellow Atchison native and statuary predecessor, John Ingalls coined the motto for our state: “Ad Astra per Aspera,” or “To the Stars through Difficulties.” Amelia Earhart personified that motto, pushing against social boundaries set for women and breaking new records in flight not just for a woman but for all aviators. For generations to come her spirit and her likeness in Statuary Hall will inspire not only Kansans, but also visitors from around the world.”

You may click HERE or scroll below to read the op-ed in its entirety.

Amelia Earhart gets her deserved spot in the U.S. Capitol as one of Kansas’ tribute statues

Op-ed by: U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. and Jerry Moran; U.S. Representatives Ron Estes (KS-4), Sharice Davids (KS-3), Jake LaTurner (KS-2), and Tracey Mann (KS-1)
July 27, 2022
Topeka Capital Journal

In the halls of the U.S. Capitol, statues of great Americans adorn its corridors — inventors, generals, suffragettes, presidents and more — inspiring visitors, staffers, and lawmakers alike. As part of the collection, each state selects two citizens to be posthumously honored in the National Statuary Hall Collection.

On Wednesday, July 27, after waiting more than 20 years, Amelia Earhart’s statue will replace fellow Atchison native and former U.S. Sen. John Ingalls as a part of the renowned collection. She will join President Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th president and Abilene native, as one of Kansas’ tribute statues in the U.S. Capitol.

President Eisenhower was placed in the Capitol Rotunda in 2003, but Amelia’s journey to our nation’s Capitol has taken much longer. Kansans, and especially the people of Atchison, persevered, just as Amelia did in her pursuit of flight, to coordinate and create a bronze statue and limestone base — an appropriate nod to our state’s signature natural stone.

Eighty-five years ago this month, Amelia Earhart vanished over the Pacific Ocean. She had already completed more than 75% of her trip, which would have made her the first pilot ever to circle the earth at its equator.

And, she’d made history before that flight. She was the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first woman to fly nonstop across the U.S. Defying odds and expectations with each new accomplishment, she became a global superstar and one of the most accomplished pilots in history.

While Amelia was a pioneer for aviators everywhere, she is still today a role model for women and young girls who strive to break barriers and achieve their dreams despite the odds being against them.

In Kansas, Amelia’s legacy lives on and continues to know no limits. Kansas is home to the Air Capital of the World, as many aviation manufacturers have designed and produced countless planes and aviation parts in the heartland over the course of a century. And Kansas farmers and ranchers utilize the skill and expertise of aerial applicators.

On any given summer’s day, with eyes to the sky, you can see these stunt-like pilots flying low over acres and acres of cropland. Our wide open spaces are well-fitted for runways, and our horizons go on for miles.

Kansas is where a 9-year-old Amelia first took flight. She built a makeshift rollercoaster off her house, inspired by an exhibit she saw at the 1904 World’s Fair. After tipping over the edge of the roof she said it “felt like flying.” Sixteen years later, she purchased her own plane and flew to new heights.

Today, the people of Atchison host an annual festival in honor of Amelia, celebrating her life and achievements with history lessons, concerts, a fireworks extravaganza and awards. Annually, a woman chosen by the community is honored for carrying on the trailblazing spirit of Amelia Earhart. The winners include pilots, politicians, authors and more. Although their professions are different, they were all inspired by Amelia’s persistence, character and courage.

This pioneering spirit built our state, and there is no doubt that Amelia’s pioneering spirit lives on in these women.

Amelia flew to new heights and traveled longer distances than ever before, but Atchisonians, Kansans and Americans are honoring Amelia today out of a shared admiration for her spirit.

Her fellow Atchison native and statuary predecessor, John Ingalls coined the motto for our state: “Ad Astra per Aspera,” or “To the Stars through Difficulties.”

Amelia Earhart personified that motto, pushing against social boundaries set for women and breaking new records in flight not just for a woman but for all aviators. For generations to come her spirit and her likeness in Statuary Hall will inspire not only Kansans, but also visitors from around the world.

Background:

Yesterday, Senator Marshall spoke on the Senate floor about Amelia Earhart and about this week’s statue unveiling. You may click HERE or on the image below for video.

• The National Statuary Hall Collection consists of 100 statues – two contributed by each state. The statues are placed throughout the U.S. Capitol.
• Kansas first sent marble statues of U.S. Sen. John James Ingalls and Kansas Governor George Washington Glick to the U.S. Capitol.
• The Kansas State Legislature voted in 1999 to replace the two statues with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart.
• The bronze statue of Earhart was created by George and Mark Lundeen and will be a twin to an Amelia Earhart statue that will be placed at the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison.
• The Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation was formed in 2016 to lead funding for the Earhart statue and to build the new Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum opening in 2023 in Atchison, Earhart’s hometown
• The Amelia Earhart statue will be the 11th woman represented in the 100 statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection.

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