[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 195 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATING KRISTY DUBINSKY'S ACHIEVEMENT

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                         HON. GUY RESCHENTHALER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 5, 2021

  Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Kristy 
Dubinsky, who selflessly painted portraits for the families of the 13 
U.S. service members killed in evacuation efforts at the Hamid Karzai 
International Airport on August 26, 2021.
  After learning of the suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 
26, 2021, Kristy Dubinsky immediately knew she needed to honor the 13 
U.S. service members killed in that senseless act. An accomplished 
artist herself, Ms. Dubinsky was already working on another piece for 
an art show in Michigan. However, she dropped what she was working on 
to paint a portrait of each service member who gave their life that 
day.
  Ms. Dubinsky, an art teacher at Elizabeth Forward High School 
specializing in military themes, said that ``a voice in my head just 
kept telling me to paint the 13.'' Kristy documented the entire 
process. She posted daily on her social media platforms for others to 
follow along. While recording the progress over the 13 days, a disabled 
former Marine, Shelly Frontera, saw what Kristy posted and traveled 
from Michigan to honor the 13 soldiers by accompanying each painting 
with a red, white bud vase, and blue rose.
  Ms. Dubinsky's portraits depict 12 of the 13 in formal dress: Marine 
Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, 
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Marine 
Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny 
Pichardo, Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. 
Jared Schmitz, Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton Soviak, and Marine Corps 
Cpl. Daegan Page. Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee is the only exception. 
Ms. Dubinsky chose to depict the iconic photo of her holding an Afghan 
baby as evacuation efforts continued.
  Kristy's portraits are now part of the world's largest annual juried 
international art show, with 900 artists and thousands of visitors 
attending.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the achievements of 
Kristy Dubinsky. Her work is exceptional and solidifies her reputation 
as a champion of the American service members in our region.

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