Date: 1982-09-29
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. Presi- to making their city a living memorial dent. there are too few reminders in to the Great War. They have collected our Nation of the achievements. the books. manuscripts. and memorabilia heroism. and the sacrifices of Ameri- of all kinds. They have renovated a cans who worked on the homefront large warehouse beside the river to and fought in Europe to win what we house research mater1s and to dishave come to call World War I. It is play wartime military equipment. A my privilege today to introduce legisla- search Is being made for a suitable tion which will acknowledge the Work! War I warship to moor next to wholehearted resolve of citizens of a this museum. uniquely qualified small city in West On November 11the World War I Virginia to help fill this historical gap. Armistice Day before it became VeterMy resolution. Mr. President. asks ans Daythe city of Nitro will dedithat the Senate designate the city of cate a war memorial park in a ceremolitro as a living memorial to our victo- ny which will officially recognize the .ious role in the Great War against citys status as. a living memorial to Imperial Germany. and to those who World War I. fought in that war or worked to win It. All of the surviving West Virginia The existence of the city of Nitro is veterans of the Great War have been a direct result of this too little remem- Invited to attend the event. along with bered conflict. On April 6. 1917. the officials from the Department of DeCongress of the United States recog- fense. the West Virginia National nized that a state of war existed be- Guard. Veterans of Foreign Wars. tween the United States and Ger- American Legion. and State and local many. In October of that year. appro- governments. The Governor of West. priations legislation was enacted "for Virginia has arranged for the donation the purchase. manufacture. and test of of a 75millimeter field artillery ammunition for mountain. field. and cannon. and a statue of a Doughboysiege cannon. including experiments in the World War I Infantrymanis connection therewith. machinery for being prepared for the occasion. Flags its manufacture and the necessary of our World War I allied nations will storage facilities * * * ." A site for one fly In the park. along with national. of these plants. known as explosives State and city flags. There will be a plant "C". was selected at a point on parade. fireworks. speeches to underthe east bank of the Great Kanawha line the citys commitment to the deRiver. 16 miles west of Charleston. velopment of an authentic museum of where the terrain. a navigable stream World War I artifacts and a research and railroad provided a feasible site library for the benefit of future genfor the manufacture of nitrocellulose erations of Americans. for shells. bombs. torpedoes. and naval The people of Nitro are hospitable guns. During the brief lifetime of this folk. They hope to attract many visiheavily guarded plant. some 30.000 tors to their historical sites and exhibemployees lived and labored there. Its over the years to come. The Kanabuilding from scratch an elaborate wha River makes the city accessible by complex of homes. warehouses. fur- boat from Charleston and Huntington. naces. and factories for production of Scenic roads through the mountains the essential war material known as provide pleasant drives from all direcguncotton. tions. We. in West Virginia. are proud The war ended. the plants closed to add the city of Nitro to the list of and most of the people drifted away. A places in our State which underscore handful. howeverattracted by the the Importance we attach to our reriver and its fishing and water sports. markable history. and by the dramatic backdrop of the Mr. President. I hope the Senate will wild and beautiful Appalachian Moun- concur in the resolution to designate tainsremained. They set out to build the city of Nitro a living memorial to a permanent community. Nitro today World War I. has some 8.000 inhabitants. many of The resolution was agreed to. The preamble was agreed to. The resolution (S. Res. 487). with its preamble. reads as follows: