"New Mexico Veterans Commemorative"

The State of New Mexico is one of the younger states within the Union of the United States of America, having achieved formal "statehood" in 1912. However, its military history is long and varied and encompasses the period from the earliest days of the Native Americans and Spanish settlers to today’s forces deployed around the world, both active duty and reserve and national guard elements. The service of its patriotic citizens is extensive and valorous…New Mexico has 15 Medal of Honor recipients alone.

If I attempted to do a specific military engagement history of New Mexico’s units, I would need a large wall and more than enough time allotted by more than one lifetime. However, if you ask anyone who has been in the military how to describe their "association" with the military they most likely would reply by either stating a specific unit, base, time frame, war or conflict, and job and how all memories are connected through those factors. It is a sense of "belonging" that permeates a veteran’s memories of any military service, whether active duty or reserve or national guard service. Also, a veteran of New Mexico may not have served in the New Mexico national guard or reserve forces located in the state itself, and may have served in other U.S. military services and units and even outside the state, but both citizens of New Mexico and federal military and civilian personnel may still have a memorable association with the state and must not be overlooked as to their contributions to the "honor and service of New Mexico" as a whole. (An example of this is a NM citizen who was in the USMC in Vietnam who would associate his service and veteran status through the "Vietnam Service" ribbon on the painting and the USMC insignia.) It is to this "mass of patriotic spirit" that this painting is dedicated, with specific artistic rendering to the subjects in that history most directly applicable to New Mexico and its uniqueness in the Union.

The many campaign, war and service ribbons hand-painted at the bottom of the painting represent the time period for which U.S. and foreign medals were awarded to New Mexico veterans and or units from the "Mexican War Service" medal to today’s "Global War on Terrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign" medals. Let not the memory of one lone New Mexico patriot and veteran of a long ago service or conflict be forgotten.

"George L.Skypeck"

Artist & Veteran

The background of the painting is a special analogy to the geography, climate and topography of New Mexico with the predominant color being that of yellow-orange representing the sun. An analogy to the American flag is superimposed on that background to represent this land as part of this great nation—a special part with vast sky, open areas, desert, mountains, and beauty. The yellowish color also represents the background color of the state flag.

The main central image is "The Great Seal of the State of New Mexico." Above it is the main common neck ribbon and attachment of the United States of America "Medal of Honor," since there are three different design versions of the current MOH for each of the main military services: Army, Air Force, and Navy (including Marine and Coast Guard). New Mexico has fifteen Medal of Honor recipients alone. Below the Great Seal is the "Zuni" Native American( or Indian) "Zia" symbol for the sun, and center image on the state flag. (NOTE: I have made an analogy to the atomic bomb tests and facilities which took place in New Mexico and in the development and deployment of these weapons---man-made sun in the form of the air burst fireball of a nuclear explosion.)

Finally, below the "Zia" are the many campaign, war and service ribbons which New Mexico veterans have earned during their various military service periods to date.

SURROUNDING IMAGES:

The purpose of this painting is to show, in "my unique trademarked style of historical representation and progression," the various military events which New Mexico veterans have experienced from the early Spanish and Indian settlement period to today via the military scenes, equipment, symbols, colors, aircraft, and insignias, in an allegorical fashion, that is, not an actual image of the event, but a representation in my mind of what it means to the viewer---anyone viewing this painting could not have lived long enough, or have been at many, some or even one of these events—but for some, the scene will ignite past memories and facilitate communication about their own personal experiences in that place or time represented by the scene, etc. COMMUNICATION—that’s my goal and much personal research has gone into each representation on this painting.

-Early Spanish warrior and militia member surrounded by the flags of "Bourbon" Spain, Spain 1700s, Mexico, alluding to the irregular forces defending New Mexico territory during that time.

-Scene representing the last battle of the U.S. Civil War between Union forces and Confederate forces.

-Teddy Roosevelt’s "Rough Riders" "1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry" colors and attack in Cuba during War with Spain(1898-9).

-Profile of U.S. Cavalry corporal next to crest of 10th U.S. Cavalry("Buffalo Soldiers" in Indian Campaign).

-Indian warrior with "coo-stick."

-U.S. Indian Scout during Indian Wars alongside "U.S.S" insignia( now the Army’s Special Forces branch insignia less letters.)

-Woman military member in fatigues honoring all women veterans, especially the nurses and today’s women military members of all branches that are called upon to man MASH units, humanitarian emergencies, etc. worldwide.

-Vietnam era military member with helmet and equipment of that era.

-"Desert Storm," Iraq and Afghanistan wars and Global War on Terrorism military member in era uniform and equipment.

-Present day modern National Guard and reserve force jet fighter pilot in new helmet and equipment.

-World War One service with New Mexico national guard units that were attached in France to the 40th and 41st Divisions in 1918.

-World War Two service by New Mexico’s 200th and 515th Coastal Artillery units in the defense of Corregidor and Bataan in the Philippines winning three distinguished unit citations for bravery and becoming Prisoners of War. Shown near the POW medal ribbon and the Philippine Department of US forces in those islands at the time of the attack-1941.

-World War Two service of some of the New Mexico units that were broken up and formed up to fight with the 34th "Red Bull" and 45th "Thunderbird" divisions in the Italian-France-Germany campaigns of the European Theatre of Operations(1945).

-World War Two service scene of USMC insignia next to Navajo Code Talkers adjusting an F-4U Corsair Marine plane air strike on Japanese positions in the Pacific Theatre of Operations(1945). They served with the six US Marine divisions throughout the Pacific War.

-Image of the new "USS New Mexico-SSN779" submarine below the ghostly image of the old "USS New Mexico, BB-40" battleship showing six major battle stars in WW2.

-Active duty, Reserve and National Guard forces’ insignias that were once or parts of which are now stationed in New Mexico:

USMCR: 4th Marine Division(for D Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion).

US Army Reserve & Army National Guard:

111th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

515th RTI 93rd TC

804th Quartermaster

140th Aviation

171st Aviation

New Mexico State Guard

10th U.S. Cavalry("Buffalo Soldiers")

200th Coast Artillery

201st Field Artillery

202nd Field Artillery

43rd Support Group

52 Engineers

420th Engineers

111th Cavalry Regiment(old)

120th Engineers

146th Field Artillery

158th Field Artillery

515th Coast Artillery

USAF, Air National Guard and USAF Reserve units (or parts thereof) which were, or are stationed in New Mexico:

US Air Force Reserve Command representing all USAFR personnel from New Mexico.

New Mexico Air National Guard, insignias and aircraft used.

150th Fighter Wing

188th Fighter Squadron

27th Special Operations Wing & components

58th Special Operations Wing & components

12th Air Force(part of NM units attached to it for operations)

U.S. Air Force Materiel Command

Strategic Air Command(old)

509th Bomb Wing(atom bomb unit in WW2)

US Army Air Force(WW2) and old USAF(post WW2) insignia and BT-13 WW2 trainer.

USAF Para Rescue School ("P.J." badge & parachutist)

US Air Force Operations & Evaluation Center shield

US Air Force Space Development & Test Wing shield

US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center shield

377th Air Base Wing

498th Armament Systems Wing shield

AIRCRAFT shown on painting---

New Mexico Air National Guard Pilot and F-16 jet fighter and some of the aircraft used by it over time: P-51, F-100, A-7, F-16.

UH-60 helicopter

OV-22 "Osprey"

MC-130

"Enola Gay" B-29 atomic bomber of 509th BW (WW2)

B-36, B-47, F-117 and F-111 aircraft(first strike on Iraq)

 

-War With Mexico(1845)

-Civil War(1861-65)

-Indian Wars( many campaigns since 1776-1900's)

-War With Spain(1898)

-USMC Expeditionary Medal( many expeditions since creation in 1800’s)

-US Navy Expeditionary Medal ( same as above)

-Mexican Border Service(1914-17)

-World War One Victory(1917-1918)

-American Defense Medal(1940 call-up prior to WW2)

-WW2 American Theatre(1941-45)

-WW2 Pacific Theatre(1941-45)

-WW2 European Theatre(1941-45)

-World War Two Victory(1945)

-Occupation Germany-Japan WW2(1945-)

-National Defense Service Medal (Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, GWOT)

-Korean Service Medal (Korean War 1950-54)

-Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal( various since 1955-to date)

-Vietnam Service Medal (Vietnam War, 1965-75)

-Humanitarian Service Medal(various-given for rescue, hurricane, flood, storm and humanitarian operations).

-First Gulf War "Desert Shield-Desert Storm"

-Kosovo Campaign

-American Service Medal( Bosnia, etc. Balkans)

-Korean Defense Service Medal (post Korean War to present)

-Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (post 9-11-2001 to date)

-Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal( same as above)

-Iraq War Campaign medal

-Afghanistan War Campaign Medal

-US Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with "M" mobilization)

-US Army reserve & NG achievement medal ( USAR & USARNG)

-Reserve & NG Overseas ribbon

-Philippine Defense medal(WW2)

-Philippine Liberation medal(WW2)

-Philippine Congressional medal(WW2)

-United National Korea Service medal (Korean War 1950-54)

-UN Service Medal (many operations, Haiti, Somalia, etc.)

-NATO service medal ( Bosnia, Balkans, etc.)

-NATO medal for Kosovo campaign

-Vietnam Campaign medal with "60" device (Vietnamese medal)

-Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation medal (w/crest) (first Gulf War)

-Kuwait Medal of Liberation (first Gulf War)

-United States Army & Air Force Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation (three awards for 200& 515 CA in WW2).

-USN+USMC Presidential Unit Citation (code talkers WW2)

-DOD Joint Meritorious Unit Award

-Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (for WW2 defense)

-USAF Outstanding Unit Award with "V-Valor"

-Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/palm

A final small item on the painting is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Chapel at Eagle’s Nest, Angle Fire, NM, on which the artist has his famous poem "SOLDIER" engraved inside.