Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd - Arlington, Virginia
Posted by: 
flyingmoose
N 38° 53.023 W 077° 03.967
18S E 320790 N 4305901
Directly across Memorial Drive from Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center.
Waymark Code: WM14KJA
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 07/21/2021
Views: 4
Richard E. Byrd was a highly decorated naval officer who led multiple expeditions in Antarctica and was part of the Antarctic Peace Treaty. He recieved the Medal of Honor for his work in aviation, polar exploration, and organizer of polar logistics. He also is known as the first person to reach both poles by aircraft (though he might have missed the north pole by 150 miles).
Front/East:
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Read 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
Left/South:
Valiant leader of
five Antarctic expeditions 1928-1957
which revealed the secrets of
half the Great White Continent
Right/North:
First to fly over the North Pole 1926
and the South Pole 1929
A pioneer conqueror of the Atlantic by air 1927
Back/West:
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Awarded
Congressional Medal of Honor 1927
Navy Cross 1930
Distinguished Service Medal 1926 1940
Legion of Merit 1944 1946
Commendation Medal 1944
Silver Life-Saving Medal 1922
Medal of Freedom 1957
1928-30 Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal 1930
Second (1933-35) Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal 1936
1939-41 United States Antarctic Expedition Medal 1945
Antarctic Service Medal for 1946-47 1955-57 1960
National Geographic Society Hubbard Medal 1926
Geographic Society of Chicago Helen Culver Gold Medal 1926
Geographic Society of Philadelphia Elisha Kent Kane Medal 1926
Smithsonian Institution Langley Gold Medal for Aerodromics 1929
American Geographic Society David Livingston Centenary Medal 1929
Geographic Society of Chicago Gold Medal 1930
National Geographic Society Special Medal of Honor 1930
Honored by many countries for his explorations and heroism
Statue artist: Felix W. De Weldon 1961