Skyla Thompson, left, and Katlyn Delp were guests of Gov. Rick Perry at a recent Senate bill signing ceremony at the Capitol. Two Lometa High School students were invited to the State Capitol to witness the signing of Senate Bill 482 which creates a Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.

Katlyn Delp, a 10th-grader, and freshman Skyla Thompson also were able to spend some time with Gov. Rick Perry following the signing.

Purpose of the commission is to work with organizations, agencies, museums, survivors and liberators to provide information and experiences and to coordinate memorial events in the state.

"As a state and nation, we are compelled to prevent future episodes of genocide and oppression by casting the light of truth on their history and educating our citizens on the circumstances that allow their occurrence," said Perry. "Ultimately, that truth, and the willingness to defend the vulnerable among us, will lead to greater justice. This bill is an important statement of the values we hold dear in this state -- those of respecting human life and valuing freedom for all men and women."

The creation of the commission will give schools and organizations in smaller communities access to resources and information about the Holocaust and genocide that they otherwise have little access to. The commission will consist of 18 members: 15 appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker, with the commissioner of education, commissioner of higher education and executive director of the Texas Veterans Commission acting as exofficio members.

"As a child of Holocaust survivors, I have lived the lessons of that horrific event all my life, but there are generations of people who have no access to the lessons and teachings of this historic tragedy," said Sen. Florence Shapiro. "The intolerance of that period remains a contemporary issue today that young people need to learn about. It is my hope that this legislation will help provide the information necessary to ensure that we never forget."

In addition to the Holocaust, there have been five major genocide events in the 20th century, including the Armenian, Cambodian, Rwandan, Bosnian and Herzgovinian and Sudanese genocides. Survivors, liberators and others who witnessed these atrocities have died without leaving their lessons of survival and humanity. According to the Holocaust Museum Houston, six Holocaust survivors have died within the last six months in Houston alone.

"I am very proud to have authored this bill with my good friend Sen. Shapiro. We must all stand up and recognize that geno- cide continues to take place all over the world," said Sen. Rodney Ellis. "Sixty-four years ago it was Eastern Europe. Today, it is Darfur. The Holocaust and Genocide Commission is Texas' effort to ensure that our schools and communities have the resources they need to teach our kids and neighbors to do what is morally right when faced with such atrocities."

Rep. Ellen Cohen said the bill means that all communities across Texas -- particularly in rural areas -- will have the opportunity to learn about what can happen if good people do not stand up to be counted. "It will help educate young people, who will be the future leaders or their chamber of commerce, school board or Girl Scout troop, that while we may take exception to the views of others we can and must do so in a respectful and civil manner."

The Lometa girls said they were fortunate to have been able to spend time with the governor and with Holocaust survivors.

Their interest was spurred in the Holocaust when Katlyn contacted a survivor in Houston for more information on the Holocaust. They have remained friends and kept in touch.

The girls are in the Gifted and Talented program at Lometa, and their former GT teacher George Menefee generated interest when discussing the Holocaust last year.

Katlyn is the daughter of Nora and Bob Delp of Lampasas, and Skyla's parents are Mackey and Brenda Thompson of Lometa.