Life scout finishes mural project on AMP tennis practice wall

Life Scout Harrison M. Smith of Troop 913 has finished his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project—a mural painted on the tennis practice wall of the American Memorial Park.

Smith, a sophomore at the Saipan International School, presented the mural depicting the island’s abundant and precious coral reef, in a ceremony on Saturday.

The project’s completion signals the culmination of an Eagle Scout candidate’s leadership training to attain the highest rank in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America.

Smith was joined by CNMI Boy Scouts island director Cal Reyes, Troop 913 scout master Val Welsh, and other scouts in presenting the mural to Park Ranger Nancy Kelchner of the National Park Services.

He also presented certificates of appreciation to Kelchner and his major sponsors: Ace Hardware and Sherwin Williams, which helped him accomplish his project through in-kind donations.

Two gallons of primer, two gallons of sealant, and 38 quarts of paint were used to complete the project.

“It was a long process but I’m glad that’s finally over because I want everybody to be able to see this,” said the son of F. Matthew and Christina Smith.

The younger Smith said it took about a week to complete the mural. He said the National Park Services power washed the wall and brought in scaffolding for the 26 community members who helped paint the wall.

“We primed it, we put up the black lines, we painted the colors, and we sealed it,” he recounted.

Smith, 16, disclosed that the final painting slightly deviated from his original design. These small changes, he said, include the additional dolphin, the different colors of the coral, and the small island in the corner.

For Smith, the best part of the project was painting the turtle, which he described as “really fun.” The most challenging, he noted, was taking the design and putting it on the actual wall.

“You have to get the proportions correct. If you made something too big, then nothing else would fit,” he explained.

Smith believes the mural would mean a lot to the community because of the message it puts across. “I just want them to be able to think about how the reef is part of our way of living. If we destroy the reef, our island isn’t going to be as beautiful,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Kelchner, in an interview, said the project turned out to be an excellent educational tool.

“Not only has a student and boy scout originated the idea but he also planned the project and made sure that the project came to fruition. That’s a lot for a teenager,” she said.

Kelchner added that the mural sends two messages: to protect the health of the island’s coral reef and not to underestimate the ideas of young minds.

“It goes to show that young folks have great potential. Their ideas shouldn’t be discounted by adults. They should be heard,” she said.

Smith urged other scouts to do something they love to do when coming up with their own Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, the way he did.

“If you’re doing something you don’t like, then you’re not going to be as enthusiastic about it… But if you’re doing something you like, then you’ll have more fun doing it and you’ll be able to like your actual project more,” he said.