GEORGE L

Certificate of Authenticity

GEORGE L.SKYPECK®

“Assured Victory...A 09-11-2001 and War on Terrorism Memorial”

This painting , now on public display loan to Arlington National Cemetery’s Visitor’s Center, depicts the terrorists attacks and events of “ 11 September,2001,” in New York City(World Trade Center) and Washington, D.C.(the Pentagon). It depicts the heroic sacrifice of the brave police, firefighters, and Pentagon employees as well as showing the resolve of America’s gallant military forces to bring the “War on Terrorism” as President George Bush termed it, to the terrorists no matter their haven, location or support base worldwide. To that end, the painting depicts the first units to respond: the US Air Force’s B-1,B-2, and B-52 bombers and AC-130 gunships; the U.S. Army Special Forces, Rangers, 10th Mountain Division, and 101st Airborne Division; the Marines with both an MEU and attack F-18 aircraft from US Navy aircraft carriers; the U.S. Navy with its naval forces and the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise(first to deploy); the U.S. Coast Guard and seaport and inland waterway security; the Army and Air National Guard forces, such as the Washington, D.C., F-16 Air Guard aircraft on constant air patrol over Washington; the FBI and CIA;the newly created Department of Homeland Security and the many unseen faces of America’s reserve forces and agencies. Several of the military units which won the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and which today carry on the fight against Iraqi terrorists are shown.

The main centerpieces are the famous “Statue of Liberty” in New York City’s harbor, and the “Statue of Armed Freedom” which rests atop the U.S.Capitol building dome of Congress in Washington, D.C. and overlooks the Pentagon. Additions to the painting were the other possible targets, the “White House” or “The Capitol.” Below them is a purple and black mourning ribbon blending into the purple and white ribbon of the Purple Heart Medal linking the Pentagon to the World Trade Center casualties, and the two symbols of American sacrifice, which probably will continue as the war progresses: the military’s “Purple Heart Medal”(for deaths and wounds in combat), and the new government civilian “Defense of Freedom Medal,” as well as the new “Global War on Terrorism Service Medal” and the “Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal” and the “Iraq” and “Afghanistan” campaign medals. The entire background of the painting is the American flag which still flies at “Ground Zero” in NYC and at the Pentagon....and now briskly in the hearts of Americans everywhere. (Painting has been constantly updated with units and events in the GWOT and on loan public display at Arlington National Cemetery since 12/2001.