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[[File:McMurdo.jpg|300px|left]]
[[File:Order of the Snowflake Star.jpg|250px|left]]
'''[[McMurdo Station]]''' is a United States Antarctic research center on the south tip of [[Ross Island]], which is in the New Zealand-claimed [[Ross Dependency]] on the shore of McMurdo Sound in [[Antarctica]]. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National Science Foundation. The station is the largest community in Antarctica, capable of supporting up to 1,258 residents, and serves as one of three United States Antarctic science facilities. All personnel and cargo going to or coming from [[Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station]] first pass through McMurdo.
The '''[[Order of the Snowflake]]''' is the second highest [[Orders of Westarctica|Order of Westarctica]]. The intention of the order is to honor those who have provided a service to [[Westarctica]]. It was created in January 2015. Only the [[Grand Duke of Westarctica|Grand Duke]] himself has the power to bestow new knighthoods and thus far, he has awarded the medal to foreign dignitaries, artists, prominent nobles, and other supporters of Westarctica. All knights and dames receive the regalia of the class being bestowed; the Order of the Snowflake is always awarded for life. Membership entitles the bearer to attach the post-nomial "KtS" ("Knight of the Snowflake") or "DtS" ("Dame of the Snowflake") following their name in correspondence and other forms of written address (business cards, place settings, calling cards, etc.).


The station owes its designation to nearby McMurdo Sound, named after Lieutenant Archibald McMurdo of HMS ''Terror'', which first charted the area in 1841 under the command of British explorer [[James Clark Ross]]. British explorer [[Robert Falcon Scott]] first established a base close to this spot in 1902 and built Discovery Hut, still standing adjacent to the harbor at Hut Point. The volcanic rock of the site is the southernmost bare ground accessible by ship in the Antarctic. The United States officially opened its first station at McMurdo on 16 February 1956. Founders initially called the station Naval Air Facility McMurdo. On 28 November 1957, [[Admiral George J. Dufek]] was present with a U.S. congressional delegation during a change of command ceremony.
The highest grade, that of Knight Grand Cross, is reserved for Heads of State and members of the [[Royal Family of Westarctica|Royal Family]]. It remains the most rarely awarded class. The regalia for this class consists of a silver breast star with over 100 Austrian rhinestone crystals. In the center of the star is a snowflake symbol encased in glass.


'''([[McMurdo Station|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[Order of the Snowflake|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 06:23, 21 June 2025

Order of the Snowflake Star.jpg

The Order of the Snowflake is the second highest Order of Westarctica. The intention of the order is to honor those who have provided a service to Westarctica. It was created in January 2015. Only the Grand Duke himself has the power to bestow new knighthoods and thus far, he has awarded the medal to foreign dignitaries, artists, prominent nobles, and other supporters of Westarctica. All knights and dames receive the regalia of the class being bestowed; the Order of the Snowflake is always awarded for life. Membership entitles the bearer to attach the post-nomial "KtS" ("Knight of the Snowflake") or "DtS" ("Dame of the Snowflake") following their name in correspondence and other forms of written address (business cards, place settings, calling cards, etc.).

The highest grade, that of Knight Grand Cross, is reserved for Heads of State and members of the Royal Family. It remains the most rarely awarded class. The regalia for this class consists of a silver breast star with over 100 Austrian rhinestone crystals. In the center of the star is a snowflake symbol encased in glass.

(Full Article...)