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INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DEDICATION
1948
NEW YORK CITY, NY
Medal sponsored and issued by Port of New York
Authority; designed by Julio Kilenyi, New York sculptor; struck by Robbins
Co., Attleboro, MA
Authority is self-supporting, public corporate agency
of New York and New Jersey; created 1921 "to deal with terminal and
transportation facilities…to improve and protect commerce of the…Port
District"; operates 5 airports and heliports, 4 bridges, 2 vehicular
tunnels, several railroad, bus, truck and marine terminals, and a variety of
other real estate including the site of the former World Trade Center.
After first commercial flight on July 1, 1948, New York
International Airport was dedicated July 31, 1948, during International Air
Exposition as part of New York's "Golden Anniversary" (Greater New York
formed Jan. 1, 1898 by organization of adjacent counties into 5
boroughs of NY). Commonly called Idlewild Airport due to location partly at
site of Idlewild Golf Course, latter name from a Native American term for
the area, "Idalwilde", or "peaceful but savage". Airport was rededicated on
Dec. 24, 1963, as John F. Kennedy International Airport, following action of
the Mayor and Council of the City of New York and a resolution of the
Commissioners of the Port Authority. Over 41,000,000 passengers and over
300,000 airplanes handled by airport in 2005.
Medal struck in 3 in. and 1 3/8
in. sizes; Silver specimens of former presented to high Federal and state
officials while Bronze pieces given other guests. "Several thousand" medals
struck in 1 3/8 in. size,
Gilt only, mostly "with key chain loops"; distributed to general public both
at dedication and "later at Golden Exposition which ran for over a month in
Grand Central Palace, N. Y. C." Port Authority advised that none of these
medals was sold.
 
Photos courtesy of John Dean
Obv. In center is an involved shield-like
design; above New York / International / Airport; on
shield, at top, small Dedication / July 31 1948; on l. panel
of shield Size / 4900 Acres / Terminal Area / 160
Acres; on r. panel of shield 10 Miles / of Runways /
Cost / $160,000,000; below Construction Started / by
the City of New York / April 1942; border legend The Port of
New York Authority
Rev. Clouds at top above layout of the roads and
runways at airport; below, at extreme l. border, microscopic Kilenyi;
at extreme bottom border, around to r., small © New York International
Airport
HK-499 Gilt. 34mm.
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