H.R. No. 1074



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Many residents of Eastland are joining together on 
National Flag Day, June 14, 2003, to honor the late Marene 
Johnson-Johnson and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her 
remarkable stamp mural, which was dedicated on National Flag Day in 
1963; and
	WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson-Johnson was born in 1899 in Stonewall 
County and graduated from Aspermont High School and Stamford 
College; devoted to her community, she participated actively in 
civic affairs until her passing in 1978; her many endeavors 
included service on the Texas state boards of Easter Seals and the 
United Fund and on the national council of the USO; and
	WHEREAS, This public-spirited Texan also served as the first 
female postmaster of Eastland, a position she held from 1955 to 
1968; during her tenure, she created what has become a community 
icon, a striking 60-square-foot mural in the city's post office 
that is composed almost entirely of canceled postage stamps; and
	WHEREAS, Seven years in the making, the mural contains 11,217 
foreign and American stamps, including most of the U.S. stamps 
issued up to 1963; among the images depicted are the five-cent 
Benjamin Franklin, two-cent Abraham Lincoln, and one-cent Lady 
Liberty stamps, as well as a map of the State of Texas and a variety 
of motifs relating to American education, military forces, and 
advances in communication and industry; and
	WHEREAS, In addition, six United States presidents, numerous 
state political leaders, and many United Nations' ambassadors 
signed stamps for the project, making the mural not only a beautiful 
piece of art but also a historical treasure; and
	WHEREAS, Throughout her life, Marene Johnson-Johnson 
epitomized the virtues of love of country and service to one's 
community, and it is most fitting that the people of Eastland pay 
tribute to both her and her mural--a treasured piece of their city's 
heritage--on this special day; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby commemorate the life of Marene Johnson-Johnson 
and extend to the people of Eastland sincere best wishes for a 
meaningful and memorable National Flag Day observance.

                                                              Keffer of Eastland


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 1074 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on May 23, 2003.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House