Bill Text: TX HCR141 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Commending artist George Skypeck for donating his painting The Spirit of the Alamo Lives On to the State of Texas.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-25 - Signed by the Governor [HCR141 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HCR141-Enrolled.html

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H.C.R. No. 141

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Combat veteran and celebrated military artist
George L. Skypeck donated his painting The Spirit of the Alamo
Lives On to the State of Texas, and it will be available for public
viewing at the State Capitol beginning April 9, 2019; and
WHEREAS, When Mr. Skypeck was recovering from wounds he
received in Vietnam, he spent part of his recovery at the Audie
L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio, and in appreciation
of the kindness he received from Texans, he painted The Spirit of
the Alamo Lives On; the piece depicts incidents from Texas military
history, and the paint itself includes sand from Omaha Beach, the
site of some of the fiercest fighting on D-Day in 1944; Mr. Skypeck
donated the artwork to the state in 2009, and after being on display
for a time at the Texas Veterans Commission, it is being rehung near
the Medal of Honor hallway in the Capitol on April 9, 2019; and
WHEREAS, A native of Massachusetts, George Skypeck served in
the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1974, including two combat tours in
Vietnam as a special warfare and senior intelligence advisor;
during the Tet Offensive of 1968, he commanded 50 men in the defense
of the Ben Tre outpost; his numerous decorations include two Bronze
Stars, a Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air
Medals, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge; he left the army in 1974
at the rank of captain; and
WHEREAS, In civilian life, Mr. Skypeck earned a bachelor's
degree in political science and a master's degree in public
administration from the University of Massachusetts, and he also
studied at the Corcoran Museum of Art in Washington, D.C.; a
disabled veteran himself, he has won international acclaim for
paintings honoring the men and women who have served in our nation's
armed forces; his work is on display around the world, in such
places as the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, the ministries of defense
in South Korea and Germany, and the headquarters of the American
Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and NATO; his military
service and creative contributions have been honored with many
awards, including the George Washington Medallion of Merit from the
Military Order of the Purple Heart; and
WHEREAS, George Skypeck has dedicated his life and his art to
supporting and recognizing his fellow veterans, and his generous
gift to the people of Texas will hang with honor in the State
Capitol, inspiring countless visitors for years to come; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 86th Texas Legislature hereby commend
George Skypeck for his donation of The Spirit of the Alamo Lives On
to the State of Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Skypeck as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
Springer
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 141 was adopted by the House on
April 8, 2019, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 141 was adopted by the Senate on
April 16, 2019, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor