Connecting the visual image of the poppy with the sacrifice of service made by our veterans has been an important goal of the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program since its inception in 1921. On Memorial Day and Veterans Day, millions of red crepe paper poppies—all handmade by veterans as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation—are distributed across this country in exchange for donations that go directly to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans in our communities.
The Poppy Program raises community awareness and respect for our veterans by educating Auxiliary members and the public about the symbol of the poppy, taken from a line in the poem “In Flanders Fields” written on the battlefront during World War I by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D.
Poppy Day
Poppy Day has become a familiar tradition in almost every American community. This distribution of the bright red memorial flower to the public is one of the oldest and most widely recognized programs of the American Legion Auxiliary.
The Poppy Story
From the battlefields of World War I, weary soldiers brought home the memory of a barren landscape transformed by wild poppies, red as the blood that had soaked the soil. By that miracle of nature, the spirit of their lost comrades lived on.
Learn More...
Financial Benefit
The financial benefit realized by our nation’s veterans as a result of poppy distribution is huge; nearly 3.5 million poppies were distributed by units last year, raising $2.1 million. Children are involved in spreading the poppy message, too. Poppy Poster Contests are held in local schools for students in grades 2 to 12. The Miss Poppy Contest is a fun event for Junior Auxiliary members who develop local programs to promote the Auxiliary memorial poppy.
Meeting the continuing needs of our veterans should be the concern of every American who values his or her freedom. The Auxiliary promotes the poppy as a symbol of the sacrifices our military have made, a symbol to open people’s hearts and inspire them to donate.
Purpose Statement
To elevate community awareness and respect for our veterans by educating our membership and the public about the poppy's significance and the financial benefit realized by our nation's veterans as a result of its distribution.
Service project how-to: Helping veterans around their home
By Sharon Riegsecker
This year, on your unit’s Poppy Day(s), consider all of America’s veterans and the assistance they may need around their home.
Elderly or limited-mobility veterans may not be able to take care of all their housekeeping requirements and would appreciate some extra help. Knowing that veterans and current servicemembers do not always come to the Auxiliary in times of need, here are some places where you can share our mission and help those veterans who need some help at home.
How to Find Veterans:
- In order to find veterans who might need help around their house, contact local veteran centers and the state-level Veterans Administration office, many of which are located at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). Indicate that the Auxiliary unit is looking to assist disabled veterans around their homes.
- Contact your local Operation Homefront: www.operationhomefront.net. This organization provides assistance to deployed and wounded servicemembers and their families.
- Let The American Legion, SAL and Riders in your area, especially at your post home, know what your unit is planning. They may recommend a veteran who could use your help and be willing to volunteer to help on your project.
Planning to Help the Veterans:
- Gather the contact information of all volunteers. If you are faced with choosing from several projects on the day(s) of service, review and then select which veteran(s) to help at this time.
- Assess the specific services, costs and materials needed for your project. Plan for the help that will be needed besides volunteer manpower. For instance, for a project like a wheelchair ramp, a unit should consider contacting a contractor to see if he/she would be willing to donate time or skill in labor or materials for building the ramp.
- Consider fundraising within your unit, post home and publicly for the remaining costs.
- Additional volunteers could come from other veterans organizations and local JROTCs.
Ways to Help Veterans at Home:
- basic home repairs (e.g., painting a room or the exterior of a house)
- seasonal yard work (e.g., snow removal, raking leaves, weeding or mowing the lawn)
- building a wheelchair ramp for a veteran who has lost a leg or an elderly veteran who is less mobile
- cooking a meal for them at their home
- doing their laundry or basic housecleaning
Sharon Riegsecker is a 13-year Auxiliary member. She belongs to Unit 57 in Fairbanks, Alaska. She also was part of the 2009-2010 inaugural AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer group at National Headquarters.
Planning a mission-related service project for Poppy Day(s)? Send success stories to alamagazine@ALAforVeterans.org. Your unit might be recognized in a national ALA publication!
Poppy National Chairman