Arleigh Burke was born on a farm near Boulder, Colorado in October 1901. When he was in high school there was a flu epidemic and they closed the school so he didn't get his high school diploma. He was still able to go to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated from the academy in 1923.

Arleigh served on the USS Arizona. Then he fought the Japanese during World War II. He was the commander of a destroyer squadron. He had great plans and ideas how to fight and win. He won a whole bunch of medals for what he did.

Admiral Burke was the Chief of Naval Operations in the 1950's. He retired from the navy in 1961 after 42 years.

Because he was so great and the people of Boulder are so proud of him, they named a park and a school after him in Boulder. The park and school are where his farm used to be.

We got our information from:
this web site
and from Mrs. Arnold, our teacher, who went to Burke Elementary.