Previous wing commander returns to help unveil painting

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Will Powell
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AFB, Texas --  Members of Dyess and other military installations were on hand May 20 at the Abilene Civic Center to witness the unveiling of a large military-themed painting that will be on exhibit at various banks and other locations - including the Dyess Memorial Center - until next year when it reaches its final resting place at Abilene's Texas State Veterans Cemetery. 

Approximately 300 active duty servicemembers, veterans and community members attended the ceremony. Among them was at least one familiar face - Brig. Gen. Garret Harencak, the previous 7th Bomb Wing commander and current 509th Bomb Wing commander at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. 

General Harencak returned to Abilene at the request of his old friends Jack and Sandy North, who commissioned the painting, to be the event's key speaker. 

"Jack was my honorary squadron commander when I commanded the 28th Bomb Squadron here, and our friendship goes back 20 years when I was a young captain," the general said. "Jack, for decades has been an incredible, stalwart supporter of Dyess Air Force Base and men and women in uniform. I couldn't say no to him, and I had to come here to support this great event." 

The 8 1/2 foot by 5 1/2 foot painting, which depicts 14 uniformed men and women from all service branches, will be the largest painting in any Texas State Veteran's Cemetery, said Jim DeFoor, Veterans Service Officer for Taylor County. It took local Abilene artist Mike Lanier 121 days to complete it, and he used actual servicemembers as models.
Prior to attending the ceremony, General Harencak took some time to see how much Dyess has changed since he left in 2006. 

"I am just absolutely amazed at the tremendous upgrades that have occurred over the past two years with everything from the BX, commissary, fire station, Soul Fire Café, and everything else," he said. "I'd like to congratulate all members of Team Dyess for how great the base looks and for everything the base does to support the Global War on Terror. On my last job (deputy director of requirements at ACC), we'd get daily updates on what an incredible job Dyess' B-1 and C-130 personnel were doing all over the world. I'm just thrilled Dyess continues to display excellence in all they do."