United States honors Sir Edmund Hillary, "A Giant among the great explorers"

Presidential Delegation Announced

18-Jan-08
President George W. Bush today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Auckland, New Zealand to attend the State Funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary on January 22, 2008.

The Honorable Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service of the United States, will lead the delegation.  Director Bomar has responsibility both for areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians, and for sites of special historical interest.

Also in the delegation are The Honorable William P. McCormick, U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, who was with Sir Ed on his final trip to Antarctica last year; and Mr. Jim Whittaker who, in 1963, became the first American to have climbed Mt. Everest.

22-Jan-08
Mr Whittaker was interviewed by Sean Plunket of Radio New Zealand's Morning Report and spoke of his tremendous respect for Sir Ed, both as a mountaineer and an explorer, and also as a humanitarian. (listen)

President Dwight Eisenhower presents Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir John Hunt with the NGS's Hubbard Medal (1954).

President Bush extends deepest condolences

11-Jan-08
It is with great sadness that we learned of the death January 11 of Sir Edmund Hillary, a giant among the 20th Century's great explorers and a fast friend of the United States. Known best for his conquest of Mt. Everest and exploration of the North and South Poles, Sir Edmund dedicated his life to humanitarian and environmental causes.

In 1957, Sir Edmund led a group of New Zealanders on the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which helped establish America's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. His work marked the beginning of over fifty years of close partnership between the United States and New Zealand to help preserve Antarctica as a unique scientific and environmental laboratory for all of humankind.

Explorer, adventurer, conservationist, diplomat and humanitarian, Sir Edmund Hillary will be remembered as much for his warmth and humility as for his intrepid accomplishments. On behalf of all Americans, the President extends deepest condolences to Sir Edmund Hillary's family and friends, and to all New Zealanders as they mourn his passing.

Sir Edmund Hillary and Ambassador McCormick in Antarctica Jan '07.

Ambassador McCormick Deeply Saddened At the death of Sir Edmund Hillary

11-Jan-08
United States Ambassador William McCormick said today from the US, where he is traveling, that he was greatly saddened to learn of the death of Sir Edmund Hillary.

"I join every New Zealander in expressing my deep sorrow at the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary.  He truly was an inspiration, not just to New Zealand, but to the whole world.  My thoughts go out at this time to Lady Hillary and Sir Edmund’s family.

'I know that the whole of New Zealand -- Sir Ed’s larger family -- will miss his towering presence.

'I had the enormous privilege of travelling to Antarctica with Sir Ed and Prime Minister Clark this time last year.  In taking on such an arduous journey, he displayed the characteristics which have made him the embodiment of what it is to be a kiwi: self-reliant, yet self-effacing.

'In recognition of the sadness felt by the American people at the loss of a close friend and true hero, I have ordered that flags at all US government facilities in New Zealand be flown at half staff."

Under Secretary Dobriansky alongside the South Pole marker.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky, headed a high level U.S. Government delegation attending the 11th January dedication of the new multi-million dollar Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

On the ice, the group was hosted by Dr Ardent Bement, Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr Bement, who presided over the dedication ceremony, spoke of the ongoing quest to push back the boundaries of the unknown; a task in which the new station will play a key role. He spoke also of the need to pay respect to those who helped transform the continent from a forbidden land to a place of wonder and knowledge, and also paid direct tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary, who had died only a few hours earlier.

"It is fitting that we pause for a moment to remember the accomplishments of Sir Edmund Hillary, who stood near this very spot in January 1958, the first person to do so since Robert Falcon Scott in 1912," he said. "I was honored to meet him at the 50th anniversary of the building of New Zealand's Scott Base in 2007, an accomplishment for which he was responsible. I cannot help but believe that he is here with us in spirit today as we usher in this new phase of scientific exploration of the continent which he so loved."