Special to the Register
Gainesville Daily Register
Gainesville —
As Gainesville gears up for its Medal of Honor Host City activities in early April, officials recently learned about a gift from an internationally recognized military artist.
Army veteran and artist George Skypeck has donated a special limited edition printing of one of his works to support Gainesville's Medal of Honor Host City Program which celebrates its 10th anniversary April 6-10.
Host City Program Vice President Ray Fletcher said he has received 1,000 prints of Skypeck's original oil painting, “American Valor Through the Ages…A Medal of Honor Commemorative” for sale.
The individually signed and numbered prints, priced at $100, will be available during all public events during the four-day "Medal of Honor Weekend.”
Proceeds go to the all-volunteer Host City Program, a (501.c.3) non-profit corporation.
In addition to the 15 Medal of Honor recipients from three wars who plan to attend the event this year, Skypeck will be honored at the April 9 banquet, and will be available to discuss his art work with attendees.
“I saw one of the prints not long ago and contacted Skypeck who is a very prolific artist known primarily for his Vietnam War works,” Fletcher said. “He quickly offered to donate a special printing of his painting because our program fit perfectly in his philosophy of his artwork benefitting veteran’s causes.”
The Host City limited edition of “American Valor through the Ages...” features the three versions of the Medal of Honor surrounded by scenes of Medal of Honor actions from the Civil War through Iraq and Afghanistan.
Skypeck, a Massachusetts native, has received several awards for his artwork from public, private and governmental sectors for more than three decades.
His original artworks and prints are on display at the French Airborne Museum at Ste-Mer-Eglise, Normandy; the Pentagon, the Ministry of Defense in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Australia, all the U.S. military academies, and Arlington National Cemetery, among other locations.
His latest painting, “Assured Victory… A 09-11-2001 And War On Terrorism Memoria,” is on loan at Arlington National Cemetery since December, 2001, in honor of the American sacrifices in the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and New York City World Trade Center and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
An Army veteran of two tours in Vietnam, Skypeck rose from the rank of private to captain; his awards include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, three Air Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, and several foreign awards including the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Wound Medal and Honor Medal (First Class).
Local organizers expect a dozen of the nation’s greatest heroes to attend this year’s “Medal of Honor Weekend.”
Area residents are welcome to attend a number of public events which are scheduled each day.
The MOH recipients visit local schools, North Central Texas College and other venues during their stay.
First-time visitors this year are set to include Marines H.C. “Barney” Barnum, Robert Modrzejewski, and Duane Dewey.
The recipients are expected to begin arriving Tuesday, April 6 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
A group of Patriot Guard Riders will escort them to Gainesville.
Wednesday April 7 will include a visit to the Morton Museum of Cooke County, tours of historical sites including the former World War II U.S. Army Cap Howze where tens of thousands of troops trained for the invasion of Europe.
Thursday, April 8 the recipients plan to hold forums at the First State Bank Center for Performing Arts on the NCTC campus. The sessions will start at 9 and 10:15 a.m. The recipients will also be honored with a special program at Lee Intermediate School at 1 p.m.
An evening barbeque dinner and social hour, open to the public, will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. at the NCTC Field House. Tickets are $15 each.
On Friday, April 9, a second round of NCTC student forum sessions will start at 9 and 10:15 a.m.
Starting at 2 p.m., the public is invited to attend a ceremony at Gainesville’s Homegrown Hero Walking Trail which commemorates the visit of each recipient by planting a red oak tree fronted by an engraved granite plaque personalized for each honored guest.
The Medal of Honor banquet will begin at 6 p.m. at the Gainesville Civic Center with former Fox News journalist John Gibson serving as the master of ceremonies. The dinner program starts at 7 p.m. The event is sold out.
The keynote speaker will be announced at a later date.
Saturday, April 10, the public is encouraged to attend the Medal of Honor Weekend parade, the largest in county history, which will get underway promptly at 10 a.m. The parade route is east on West California Street from Weaver Street to Lindsay Boulevard.
The public is also invited to a recipient book signing and autograph session starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Gainesville Civic Center.
The recipients will depart Sunday, April 11.
