Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-24
BYRD IS ACCORDED
/. TRIBUTE OF NATION
Polar Aviator and His Pilot
Get Rare Medals From.
Hands of President.

Officially proclaimed a national
hero at memorable ceremonies last
night, Lieut. Comdr. Richard Evelyn
Byrd, jr., young naval aviator who
Dlazed an aerial trail to the long
defiant North Pole, reported formally
TO Secretary of the Navy Wilbur to-
day and then prepared to depart for
Richmond to receive this evening the
congratulations of the home folks"
He will carry with him, in token
of his outstanding achievement, the
rare Hubbard medal of the National
Geographic Society, bestowed upon
him by President Coolidge before an
enthusiastic and distinguished audi
ence of more than 5000 persons
which packed the Washington Audi
torium last night.
Bennett Also Gets Medal.
Sharing honors with him during
full Navy &c. Z. o." Aviation Pilot
Floyd Bennett, whose dauntless pilot
ing of the polar plane won for him
also a medal of recognition. especially
awarded by the same society.
Seldom, in it's humdrum of official
life, has Washington turned out with
such brilliance to acclaim one of the
Nations notable citizens. The vast
assemblaSc of applauding spectators
ran the gamut of officialdom and was
augmented 10y some of the country S
leading figures in the private fields of
professional, particularly scientific, en-
deavor.
Dressed in conventional blue eve
ming dress of his service, from which
he has been retired, the blushing
| naval aviator, whose daring exploit
over the top of the globe startled an
eXpectant world last May, looked more
| like movie hero acting his first role
than the experienced explorer that
science was adjudging him to be.
! Receives Rare Award.
Falteringly, almost reluctantly. it
seemed, he stepped forward beneath
the dazzling rays of a battery of
sputterinG arc lamps to receive from
the hands of the President of the
United States the medal which only
six other men before him have at
tanned.
And as the great throng gave voice
to it's cheers. the intrepid airman from
down in Virginia" explained his hesi-
tation in these words:
II was only one of half a hundred
members of our expedition who must
share in the glory; and l want to men,
ton particularly my able flying mate,
Floyd Bennett. l will receive this
medal on behalf of all the members
of our expedition"
Incidentally, during his brief speech
of acceptance. Comdr. Byrd Jet drop
q remark about the South Pole that
nas set official Washington to buzzing
regarding it's possible significance.
"Must Go to South Pole"
1.-The United States must plant its
flag at the South Pole he declared,
in predicting that dog sleds must
give way to aircraft in polar explora-
tion" He added: We've never been
! there, or anywhere near it,
Questioned today as to his possible
interest in an Antarctic flight, Comdr.
Byrd replied: II mentioned something
about that last night, didn't l? Well,
really haven't made any definite
plans yet. I'm not ready to announce
anything on that score"
The Auditorium was filled to capacity
long before Comdr. Byrd and Aviation
Pilot Bennett made their appearance
The pair, accompanied by Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Robinson, ha6
arrived by train only short while
| before the exercises were to begin
| having been forced to cancel their
plans for coming by plane because OF
threatening weather conditions.
The party was met at the station
Continued on Page 5. Column ~