Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-24

ering, perhaps, was Anthony Fokker,
whose name was emblaZoned across the
fusilage of the giant monoplane, which
was depicted gliding over the awe
some polar ice pack and the more
level ice fields to the north.
Two women, whose interest was
wrapt from start to finish of the cere-
monies, were Mrs. Robert E. Peary,
widow of the discoverer of the North
Pole, and Mrs. Edward Stafford,
daughter of the famed explorer. Both
heard President Coolidge and Comdr.
Byrd pay tribute to the feat of their
loved one-in the words of the PreSl-
dent, achieved only after weary
months of travel over the frozen arctic
wastes"
President Coolidge handed Byrd and
Bennett the medals with the following
remarks:
Word that the North Pole had been
reached by airplane for the first TIME
was flashed around the globe on May
.. An American naval officer mao
flown over the top of the world. He
had attained in n flight of 15 hours
and 80 minutes what Admiral Peary,
also a representative of our Navy,
achieved II years before. only after
weary months of travel over the
frozen Arctic wastes. The thrill fol
lowing the receipt of this news was
shared by every one everywhere. 1t
was the spontaneous tribute to brave
man for Il daring feat. We, his coun-
trymen, were particularly proud.
This man. with a record of dlstln-
guished service in the development OF
aerOnauticS, had by his browning act
added luster to the brilliant history
of the American Navy.
I'm no way could we have had a
more striking illustration of the Scien-
tific and mechanical progress since
the year 1909. Then Peary'S trip TO
the Pole on dog sleds took about two
thirds of a year. He reached his goal
on April 6. 1t was September 6 before
news of the achievement reached the
outside world. The naval officer of
1926, using an American invention,
the airplane, winged his way from his
base, at Kings Bay. SpitZbergen, and
back again in less than two-thirdS OF
a day. And, few hours later the
radio had announced the triumph to
the four quarters of the earth. Scien-
titic instruments perfected by this
navigator, and one by q representa-
tive of this organization, were in no
small degree responsible for success.
We OUT Iil0 SUPER
courage of the man willing to set
forth on such a great adventure in
the UNEMPLOYED realms of the air. But,
we must not forget, nor fail to appre-
ciate, the vision and persistence which
led him ultimately to achieve the
dream of his Naval Academy days. He
never ceased the effort to prepare
himself mentally, scientifically and
physically to meet the supreme test.
His deed will be but the beginning of
scientific exploration considered diff
cult of achievement before he proved
the possibilities of the airplane.
Lieut.. Comdr. Richard Evelyn
Byrd, your record as an officer and as
q man is illustrious. You have brought
things to pass. 1t is particularly
gratifying to me to have the privilege
of welcoming you home and of con-
graduating you on behalf of an adj
miring country, and to have the honor
of presenting to you the Hubbard
medal of the National Geographic
Society.
And I take further pleasure in pre-
senting you, Mr.. Floyd Bennett, avia-
ton pilot, U. S. N, this medal
awarded to you by the National Geo
graphic Society for your distinguished
service in assisting and in flying to
the North Pole with Mr.. Byrd"
DR.. Grosvenor, in his Introductory
statement, pointed out that, by unani-
nous vote, the board of trustees of
the National Geographic Society, on
behalf of its 100000 members, had
decided on the awards.
1--WE have assembled" he said, Ito
welcome home and felicitate a mem
Der of our society whose Arctic ex-
plorationS began under it's auspices
and who now returns from an achieve
ment that has filled the hearts of all
with pride and joy.
For your information, / would state
that the records of his flight, at his
request, have been examined by q
committee of the National Geographic
Society and found to have been care
fully and accurately kept. The rec
ords, in the opinion of the committee.
substantiate in every particular the
claims of our member that he at
tanned the north apex of the globe by
airplane on May Q, 1926, the first to
reach the North Pole by aerial navi-
CATION"
Secretary Wilbur paid a tribute to
1.-THE courageous little woman" the
wife of Comdr. Byrd, who risked all
that she held dear, with so little to
gain, had he failed" He asked if Mrs.
Byrd would stand up so that the au-
dience could see her, and promptly
dozens Of women all over the house
rose in order to get glimpse. Secre-
tary Wilbur laughed this situation off
with the suggestion that maybe if
the other women would sit down Mrs
Byrd would stand up" More arose at
this juncture, however, and the audi.
ence was deprived Of its opportunity
Of seeing the young wife Of the avia.
tor.
when Comdr. Byrd came to me
and requested leave for his polar
flight, 1 asked him just two pertinent
questions" Mr.. Wilbur declared. 1.-THE
first was, Are you married. and he
said he was; and the other question
was, is your wife willing that you
should go?' and he replied that she
was willing for him to go anywhere
that he thought it was his duty to go
So I approved his request" There
was a prolonged outburst of applause
in tribute to Mrs. Byrd at this point.
Secretary Wilbur declared that