Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-09
Special Award Of Society to
Be Presented Before No.
table Company.
EXPLORER WILL MAKE
FIRST OFFICIAL REPORT
Motion Pictures of Antarctic Ac-
tivities to Be Shown-Crew of
70 Will Share in Honors.

Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, con-
querer by air of both Poles, will re-
ceive from President Hoover a special
gold medal of the National Geo
graphic Society when the explorer
makes his first official report on the
South Pole expedition at brilliant cere-
monies in the Washington Auditorium
June 20.
A notable company of dignitaries will
hear the report and witness the presen-
tation of the medal, the special design
for which was necesSitated by the fact
that Byrd already has been awarded
the Society'S coveted Hubbard Medal
He received the latter medal from Pres
ident Coolidge at similar exercises
marking Byrd's return from the North
Pole flight In 1926
The forthcoming function will be dis
tingutshed also by the fact that Byrd's
remarkable motion picture record OF
every phase of the expeditions Ant
arctic activities, will be given its pio-
neer showing.
Whole Crew to Share.
With becoming modesty, the youthful
admiral has insisted that his entire
party of 70 men share with him the &C
claim to be accorded him in the Ma
tional Capital. Seated on the platform
at the auditorium when their leader is
decorated will be not only the AZ men
who spent 16 months in the Antarctic,
but 80 others, who rendered vital aid
in New Zealand and who faced perils
in the Antarctica seas in order to sup
ply the expedition with provisions.
The special medal of honor bears on
its face a bas-relief likeness of Ad-
miral Byrd with the inscription:
Richard Evelyn Byrd, Rear Admiral,
u. S. N. He made distinguished con-
tributions to knowledge of Antarctica
and was first to reach the geographical
South Pole by air, November 20, 1929"
The reverse side has symbolic figure
representing winged man conquering
the poles, and the legend. National
Geographic Society-Special Medal of
Honor" The medal is the work Of
Laura Gardin Fraser.
Byrd Follows Custom.
In reserving his first report to the
society until the formal medal cere-
mony, Admiral Byrd will be following
the custom established by Admiral
Peary, President Roosevelt and other
explorers who have been awarded the
f1uDDdTu IIlcQdl
Byrd and his men will be guests of
the National Geographic Society from
the conclusion of the reception in New
York on June 10. The party will board
a special train for this city at mid
night and will be met at Union Station
by representatives of the society. At
Byrd'S request, the party will be allowed
to rest at the Willard Hotel until noon
of June 20. when a busy round OF
activities will begin.
President Hoover will receive the
entire command at the White House
at 1890 in the afternoon. At 80 the
men will! be guests of the trustees OF
the society for luncheon. At $3.50 Byrd
will make his official visit to the Navy
Department and will pay his respects
to Secretary Adams.
DIR. GrOsvenOr to Preside.
In communication to DR.. John
Oliver La GORGE, vice president OF the
National Geographic Society, Byrd SAID:
IT am bringing all my men because
they all were essential to the eXpedl-
ton. The men who turned back to
New Zealand after they brought our
supplies through those perilous seas
were real heroes. They all wanted to
stay, but they played the game like men
and they deserve full recognition Tor
their vital part in our work"
The National Geographic Society sub
scribed $4,000 to the Byrd expedition
and accorded assistance in every other
way. DR.. Gilbert Grosvenor, head OF
the society, will preside at the cere-
monies in the Auditorium.