Evening star., 1930-06-21
Award Presented by Hoover
as Audience of 5000
Cheers Tribute.
ADMIRAL LEAVES CITY
EN- ROUTE TO RICHMOND
Will Receive Sword From Gov.
Pollard-Goes to Home Town
of Winchester Tomorrow.

Bedecked with another medal of
distinction and deeply touched by the
extraordinary honors showered upon
him here for his latest exploits at the
bottom of the world, Rear Admiral
Richard Evelyn Byrd today went home
to his native Virginia-to find more
honors awaiting him.
II, as President Hoover told him last
night before notable audience gath
cred for the medal presentation, Byrd
Is beloved by the American people,"
the young explorer was to witness in
the Old Dominion a display of neigh
borly affection that only home folks
Of the Southland could extend.
The white uniformed, winged ad-
miral took leave of the Capital about
midday, en- route to Richmond, capi-
tai of his home state, where a gliS-
tening sword of honor" Is to be be-
slowed upon him by Gov John Gar
land Pollard. And tomorrow he will
end his homeward trek from the far
corner OF the globe in his own home
town Of Winchester.
Such a group OF official and private
dignitaries as has gathered but seldom
to pay homage to a returning hero
watched, enthralled, last night while
the President of the United States con-
ferred upon the aerial adventurer a
special gold medal of honor struck OF
by the National Geographic Society.
The enthusiastic aSSemblage, packed
6,O00-strong into the Washington Audi
tortum, broke into spontaneous ap-
plauSe frequently as the President, In
presenting the unprecedented award,
said of the intrepid flyer:
He has demonstrated the traits Of
the born omnander-boldneSs at the
right time. comradeship, those heroic
qualities that endear the captain to his
men,"
And again: "All these achievements
are the capstone of a career whose
progress Americans have watched with
interest and pride. Admiral Byrd has
been first to conquer the difficulties of
reaching the poles by heavier -than-air
flying. He has flown the Atlantic
ocean. Success has followed upon sue
cess In life, and this Is the greatest of
ALL"
CongratuIates Admiral.
Then, turning to the abashed hero,
he concluded:
Il congratulate you, Admiral Byrd,
upon your success, upon your safe re-
turn to your country and home and
friends, upon your services and the lift
you have given to the spirit of your
countrymen. I am happy to present
to you this special gold medal of the
National Geographic Society, awarded
to you for the first attainment Of the
geographical South Pole by air, and
for distinguished contributions to world
knowledge of Antarctica.'"
In accepting the handsome medal,
Admiral Byrd thanked all who had
aided his expedition. and proceeded to
summarize what he considered the prin-
cipal achievements of his aerial venture
in the South polar regions.
In addition to the discovery of vast
expanses of new land and several new
mountain ranges, all of which were
claimed for the United States, he said,
the expedition proved the practicability
of aerial exploration in the Antarctic,
demonstrated the usefulness of the
aerial mapping camera as a new explor-
ing tool and established the value of
radio in exploration.
These things are satisfying to the
mind, Byrd said, but "of deeper mean
ing is the fact that every man who
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