Artist rendering of the new Brown Arch tribute area.

The original Brown Arch was the traditional entryway to the flightline.

Since the annual EAA fly-in arrived in Oshkosh in 1970, the Brown Arch has been the traditional entryway to the Oshkosh flightline. Millions of people have walked under the span to discover innovation, imagination, and craftsmanship within the thousands of airplanes beyond it, epitomizing the "Oshkosh experience."

Along with the renovation of EAA's convention grounds, the Brown Arch is being transformed. A special tribute area consisting of nearly 3,000 brick pavers has been designed to allow members from around the world to leave their mark on Oshkosh. Located on either side of the arch, between Wittman Road and the flightline, the tribute area will provide a place to gather again after the long year between each AirVenture Oshkosh experience to share your passion for flight with friends and family. It will be a place to carve your message in the earth for visitors in years to come to read.

The 3,000 tribute bricks, each measuring 4 square feet, feature a biplane outline made up of 160 bricks. Four compass rose bricks-two flanking the north and two flanking the south-will make up the biplane's cowling, and the centerpiece in the compass rose will be the official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marker providing the distance to flight's birthplace, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Don't miss this chance to leave your mark in Oshkosh and share your message of inspiration and encouragement for all to read. Each year, when you return, you can meet again at your paver and relive the spirit of Oshkosh!

For more information about participating in this perennial tribute, visit www.AirVenture.org/arch or contact EAA's development office at 800-236-1025. Bricks ordered by July 12, 2009, will be in place for AirVenture!