Elementary students create mural for display in USO Published May 9, 2011 By Senior Airman Michael Charles Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Students from Lomie Heard Elementary School painted ceramic tiles May 5, for display in the USO at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas. More than 125 third through fifth grade students painted ceramic tiles in the school's multipurpose room for the mural which will be permanently displayed in the USO common room. "This is a great opportunity for the kids," said Andrea Mercer, Lomie Heard Elementary School art teacher. "Most of them are already looking forward to showing their parents when the mural is finally installed." Each student painted a patriotic picture on a 5 by 5 inch tile. Once all the tiles were painted they were brought back to the ceramic studio and placed in an oven where they were baked for 10 hours at more than 2000 degrees. The tiles were then cooled and organized together to make a mural for display. Nine months ago Mrs. Gail Schomisch, the owner of the ceramic studio "All Fired Up" and coordinator of the event, contacted the director of the USO to notify them of intent to create a ceramic mural as a gift for servicemembers traveling through the Las Vegas area. "For more than a decade members of our armed services have put their neck on the line to provide us with security for the civil liberties we hold sacred," said Mrs. Schomisch. "We wanted to create something to show them that their efforts have been noticed by members of our community and we support them." After getting the blessing and intent to display the mural by the USO, Mrs. Schomisch contacted Lomie Heard to see if they would be interested in having students from their school provide the artistic drawings that would make up the mural. "We felt it was only right to the school which presides on base participate in such an event, Mrs. Schomisch said. "These kids provide a deep appreciation for what their fathers or mothers do for America. We are giving them an opportunity to show that appreciation in their own way to their parents, relatives and servicemembers traveling through the area." The Mural will be delivered to McCarran Airport by the end of May and installed by the end of the summer. "Hopefully our kids will be able to take pride in the fact that their art will be on display for years to come," Mrs. Mercer said. "In 20 years they will be able to pass through the airport and show their kids the art work they created for the soldiers and Airmen who pass through McCarran."
