Nitro, West Virginia was a small rural community that WW1 descended upon and took over as a site for a munitions plant, transforming the town forever. This foothill town abounded with the raw materials necessary to produce explosives needed for the war and a middle-American workforce eager to show off their patriotism.
Sweet little park in the middle of town, surrounded by vaping shops and CBD dealers.
Large metal poppies fill the park, along with several copies of In Flanders Fields. Believe it or not, during WW1 soldiers were big into writing poetry. Short, sweet, you just need pen, paper, or they'd sometimes just scribble on the side of their helmet.
Click the photo above to see more samples of WW1 poetry, especially read the Wilfred Owen poem Dulce Et Decorum Est ("It is sweet and fitting to fight for your country"). This was first written as a letter to his mum; he will die in battle a year later.
Leaving Nitro.
you're definitely sharing w/your students, right? so much to learn!
Wouldn't be an Aronson trip without a stop at a historical monument! Surprised there's not a picture of Dad sleeping in the corner...