Honor our fallen warriors and contribute to the continuing needs of our veterans Friday, May 19 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Woodward, when members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit #211 will distribute bright red poppies for Poppy Day. Donations will be graciously accepted.
The Flanders Field poppy has become an internationally known and recognized symbol of the lives sacrificed in war and the hope that none died in vain.
“Wear the poppy to honor and remember our fallen warriors who willingly served our nation and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said Peggy Nieland, Unit Poppy co-chairperson in Woodward. “We must never forget.”
The poppy also honors hospitalized and disabled veterans who hand craft many of the red, crepe paper flowers. Making the poppies provides a financial and therapeutic benefit to the veterans, and 100 percent of the donations collected will benefit thousands of other veterans and their families, Nieland said.
In the battlefields of Belgium during World War I, poppies grew wild amid the ravages of war. The overturned soils of battle covered the poppy seeds, allowing them to grow and forever serve as a reminder of the bloodshed of war.
The American Legion Auxiliary has dedicated itself for nearly a century to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military and their families both here and abroad, according to Unit Poppy Co-Chairperson Valerie Purvis. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value averaging $2 billion each year, and provide a variety of scholarships and other programs.
For more information about the American Legion Auxiliary, visit their website or contact Nieland at mpmpmpm@minburncomm.net or Purvis at vjpurvis@mchsi.com.
