American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Day

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Poppy was first chosen as The American Legion's memorial flower at the 1921 National Convention and was worn in memory of the men who lost their lives in World War I.

Picture vast armies on two sides in a long four-year battle, along a double line of trenches. This was Europe from 1914 to November 11, 1918. In this area of death and destruction, hundreds of thousands of American boys advanced in 1917 and 1918 determined to put an end to the horrible war. You all know the story of how they did end the war, restoring peace and liberty to subjected peoples. But, many thousands of fine young lives were required to complete the task.

The one bright color on the shell torn fields and hills of these war-torn areas was the little, red Poppy. On the edges of the trenches, in the ragged shell holes, brave little Poppies grew and bloomed on the graves of those men buried in the sacred plots of French soil, which was Flanders Field. Remembrances of the cheery bright red flowers returned to America with our boys. And so, the Poppy became the symbol of the dead, their memorial flower. It became the sign of the high ideals for which these brave young men gave their lives, still live, and are honored.

All money taken in over expense is returned to the Veterans and their families through our program. Each year millions of Americans wear little red Poppies in memory of those who have died in all wars and to assist in the rehabilitation of those Veterans who are now hospitalized suffering from wounds and illness. They are distributed by unpaid volunteers like yourself on Poppy Day. Please remember by wearing a Poppy!

The American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Day will be held Friday, May 28, 2010. The Legion men will hold The Bucket Brigade on Saturday, May 29, from 7 a.m. to 12 noon at the four-way stop by Buena Vista Bank.