Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, January 19, 2008
1. Richard Evelyn Byrd Marker
Please note the photographic pun. There is a bird perched on the head of Admiral Byrd.
Inscription.
Richard Evelyn Byrd. .
Rear Admiral United States Navy October 25, 1888 - March 11, 1957 Upon the bright globe he carved his signature of courage .
Rear Admiral United States Navy
October 25, 1888 - March 11, 1957
Upon the bright globe he carved his signature of courage
Erected by The National Geographic Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. In addition, it is included in the National Cemeteries series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1971.
Location. 38° 53.015′ N, 77° 3.947′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Fort Myer. Marker is on Memorial Drive near Jefferson Davis Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Myer VA 22211, United States of America. Touch for directions.
First to fly over the North Pole 1926
And the South Pole 1929
A Pioneer Conqueror of the Atlantic by Air 1927
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, January 19, 2008
3. Panel on Right Side of Statue
Valiant leader of five Antarctic expeditions 1928 - 1957 which revealed the secrets of half the great white continent
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
4. Richard Evelyn Byrd
Rear Admiral United States Navy
October 25, 1888 ● March 11, 1957
Upon the Bright Globe He Carved His Signature of Courage
Erected By National Geographic Society
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, September 2, 2015
5. Richard Evelyn Byrd Marker, reverse side
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Awarded
Congressional Medal of Honor 1927
Navy Cross 1930
Distinguished Service Medal 1926, 1940
Legion of Merit 1944, 1945
Distinguished Flying Cross 1927
Commendation Medal 1944
Silver Life-Saving Medal 1922
Medal of Freedom 1957
1928-1930 Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal 1930
Second (1933-1935) Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal 1936
1939-1941 United States Antarctic Expedition Medal 1945
Antarctic Service Medal 1946-1947, 19555-1957 1960
National Geographic Society Hubbard Medal 1926
Geographic Society of Chicago Helen Culver Gold Medal 1926
Geographical Society of Philadelphia Elisha Kent Kane Medal 1926
Smithsonian Institution Langley Gold Medal for Aerodromics 1929
American Geographical Society David Livingstone Centenary Medal 1929
Geographic Society of Chicago Gold Medal 1930
National Geographical Society Special Medal of Honor 1930
Honored by many countries for his explorations and heroism
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
6. Arctic Region
First to Fly Over the North Pole 1926
And the South Pole 1929.
A Pioneer Conqueror of the Atlantic by Air 1927
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
7. Antarctic Region
Valiant Leader of
Five Antarctic Expeditions 1928-1957
Which Revealed the Secrets of
Half the Great White Continent
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
8. Richard Evelyn Byrd Statue
Felix de Weldon's 1959 statue of Admiral Byrd shows him “pitting his will power against the polar elements and envisioning the scientific accomplishments of the future” (F. W. de Weldon quoted by Goode, 1974.) The 1961 dedication ceremony featured Secretary of the Navy Connolly, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, the admiral's brother Senator Harry Flood Byrd of Virginia, and Melville Bell Grosvenor of the National Geographic Society.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
9. Felix de Weldon, sc.
Felix de Weldon signed the sculpture on the admiral's boot. De Weldon is best known as the sculptor of the nearby Iwo Jima Memorial.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,140 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 23, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 4. submitted on April 12, 2023, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on September 5, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 6, 7. submitted on April 12, 2023, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 8, 9. submitted on April 15, 2023, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.