A 1999 West Point Society of the District of Columbia Distinguished Member Award is presented to Colonel John R. Byers, USA (Ret) for his exemplary service to West Point, the West Point Society of the District of Columbia and to Fairfax County. Colonel Byers has exemplified the motto "Duty, Honor, Country" through his distinguished and selfless service during the period 1975 to the present while serving on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Upon retirement COL Byers continued his well established commitment to public service, but this time focused on his community responsibilities. In the fast developing Fairfax County, Virginia, he immersed himself in the needs of his local civic association of which he became president, serving in that capacity for three terms. Not content with the challenges associated with the ever changing requirements of his own locale, he became involved with the development of Fairfax County as a whole. COL Byers undertook the responsibilities of a Commissioner of the Fairfax County Commission, providing an analysis of the changing demography of the County in order to evaluate land use and recommending the basic criteria for a comprehensive development plan for the County. COL Byers with the other members of the Redevelopment Commission successfully accomplished their multi-year mission, thus providing guidance leading to decisions concerning planning new communities and facilities throughout the County.

As Fairfax County continued its growth there was an increasing need to create a structure which would form the basis for standards of development. In 1986 COL Byers was appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to the position of Mount Vernon District Planning Commissioner, where he continued his responsibilities of establishing development guidelines, aiding in the creation of the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan which has formed the basis for evaluating requests from individual citizens and corporate entities for the approval of specific development plans. As a member of the Commission he served on various critical committees to include Vice Chairman of the Policy and Procedures Committee, as a member of the Fort Belvoir Engineer Proving Ground Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Redevelopment and Housing Committee and the Environment Committee, to name but a few. He was instrumental in planning the Mount Vernon Governmental Center and the Mount Vernon Hospital site.

After reappointment to his 4th term as Mount Vernon District Planning Commissioner in 1994, COL Byers continued his dedication to the reasoned development of Fairfax County. In 1995 he was named Citizen of the Year by the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Associations. At the time of his award he was introduced by County Supervisor Hyland with the observation that "there is no one who I think is more deserving of this award. He is a man of principle. John is a true patriot." COL Byers continues to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Fairfax County Planning Commission and in so doing serves the people of the County by advising the Board of Supervisors on the use of land in the continuing development of Fairfax County.

COL Byers has an outstanding record of service to his Country and to his fellow man. In a time during which civic responsibility has often been shunned, he has set a high standard of individual action, which embodies the motto of West Point, "Duty, Honor, Country". It is, therefore, fitting that the West Point Society of D.C. award Colonel John R. Byers, USA (Ret), USMA Class of 1951, the Distinguished Member award.