Byrd pay tribute to the feat of their
loved one—in the words of the Presi
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 tho globo on May
9. An American naval officer had
flown over the top of the world. He
had attained in a flight of 15 hours
and 30 minutes what Admiral I’eary,
also a representative of our Navy,
achieved 17 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. It
was the spontaneous tribute to a brave
man for a daring feat. We, his coun
trymen, were particularly proud.
This man, with a record of distin
guished service in the development of
aeronautics, had by his crowning act
added luster to the brilliant history
of the American Navy.
