NITRO, W.Va. — The city of Nitro’s new Memorial Park is nearing completion, featuring a wall mural painted by an incoming WVU freshman.
Clair Hemme, who graduated Nitro High School in the spring, said she’s almost finished with the World War I themed mural.
“I came about three-fourths of the way done. I have some detail work and some base work still to do, but it should be something that can be finished in a couple weekends,” Hemme said.
Hemme described some of the features of the mural, which is 115 x 22 feet tall.
“The background is an American flag rippling, and there’s some wording on it that says Nitro, a living memorial of World War I,” she said. “On the right side, is going to be a statue of a dough-boy that has been symbolic throughout the theming of the city.”
There also a few red poppy flowers to symbolize veterans, Hemme said. She said the hardest part of painting the mural was her short stature.
“I’m not a tall person, and we’ve had trucks and ladders to do a lot of stuff that I’ve never personally had to deal with. But I’ve learned a lot and my dad helped me a ridiculous amount.”
The mural will be part of a city centerpiece.
“It’s on the side of a popular antique mall that’s one of the busier streets,” Hemme said. “There’s going to be a stage built in this area and they’re going to use it as a city center whenever there’s festivals or gatherings.”
Nitro is building a new park as a living memorial to veterans of all wars and commemorate Nitro’s unique contribution to World War I.
The park will be at the corner of 21st Street and Second Avenue.