From the Chairman:

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, handmade by Veterans as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation, are distributed across the country I exchange of 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 Crae M.D.

GREAT NEWS! POPPY CAN NOW BE DISTRIBUTED YEARLY

 National Poppy Day is the Friday before Memorial Day.

The American Legion Family recognizes the importance of honoring the fallen and supporting the living who have worn our nation’s uniform. That is why The American Legion Family called upon Congress to designate the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day.

After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe and quickly became a symbol of the sacrifices made by Americans and allied service members around the world. Soldiers returning from WWI brought home the flowers in memory of the barren landscape transformed by the sudden growth of wild red poppies among the newly dug graves — unforgettably described in a memorial poem by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae:

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

National Poppy Day

broadens a tradition that dates back to the American Legion Auxiliary’s first National Convention in the early 1920s when the red poppy was adopted as The American Legion Family’s memorial flower. Today, it remains an iconic symbol of honor for the sacrifice of our veterans. ALA members distribute millions of poppies annually across the country in exchange for donations that go directly to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans in our communities.

The Department of Florida normally distributes poppies on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.   Great News! Poppy can be distributed yearly now.

Plan ahead for Poppy Day. 

 Order your poppies from Department of Florida at least 3 months prior your planned Poppy Day.

 Publicity for Poppy Day

Because our poppy is an emblem of sacrifice, those who love it must make every effort to teach the public the true meaning of the flower. The success of the poppy distribution depends upon the advance publicity. If, in the season of Memorial Day, the poppy can make the indifferent public recall the sacrifices which have been made by the men and women who gave their lives that our country might be saved, the first and greatest mission of the poppy has been fulfilled.

The second mission is to win the confidence of the public through knowledge of the purposes to which the American Legion and American legion Auxiliary expend the money derived from the poppy distribution. By means of publicity on the expenditure of the poppy proceeds, public confidence can be won. The public has the right to this information. Every Post and Unit should see that the poppy proceeds are so spent that publicity will bring honor and reward to our organization.

The public should also be reminded that the disabled men and women in hospitals, and their families are assisted by our poppy funds. The public will then know that The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary are continuing to keep faith with those who gave their all for our freedom.

Each year suggested publicity stories are prepared by National Headquarters and supplied without charge in sufficient quantity to Departments for distribution to each Unit. The stories are designed to be localized by the insertion of local names or to be rewritten from a local angle. This publication is entitled “Poppy Preview.”

Suggested Activities

The following is a suggested outline of activities to precede Poppy Day: Start a campaign of newspaper publicity which will educate the public about the significance of the poppy and the purpose for which the money is spent: organize a Poppy Speakers Bureau through which speakers will be available for meetings of all community organizations to acquaint them with the value of the poppy program, both from the standpoint of therapeutic value to the maker of the poppy and to the community itself.

Supplies for Poppy Day

Conduct a Poppy Poster Contest in the local schools and give attractive prizes to the winners. Feature a poppy window display. Window cards, windshield stickers, poppy stamps, poppy lapel streamers to identify American Legion and Auxiliary workers. “Thank You for Caring” poppy leaflets, and offset printing repro sheets can be purchased through The American Legion National Emblem Sales. A list of available supplies is furnished by national Headquarters to every Department each fall.

Poppy Facts
(It is suggested that all poppy workers memorize these facts.)

Do You Know-

That in the spring of 1919, amidst complete devastation, the poppies bloomed in abundance on the battlefields of France where so many of our men had fallen in battle, and that a replica of this poppy has become the Memorial Flower of the American Legion Auxiliary?

That The American Legion was the first national organization to adopt the poppy as its Memorial Flower, having taken this action at the national Convention in Cleveland, September 27-29, 1920?

That the American Legion Auxiliary adopted the poppy as its Memorial Flower at its organizing convention held in Kansas City, in October 1921?

That at the time the American Legion Auxiliary adopted the poppy, it pledged 100% of the profits from the poppy distribution to welfare relied for servicemen and servicewomen and their families, thus fulfilling the true meaning of the poppy, and emblem of faith; faith which is being kept with all who died through service to the living?

That the American Legion Auxiliary, in order to protect the memorial poppy from the inroads of commercialism, adopted a national poppy program at the St. Paul Convection in 1924 which eliminated the commercial poppy?

That the memorial poppies are made of red crepe paper, by hand, by disabled veterans in hospitals and poppy workrooms in forty states, and that the workers receive pay for each poppy made, the material being furnished free by the Department in the state in which the hospital is located?

That the more than 25,000,000 poppies made by disabled veterans are distributed on the streets under the supervision of the American Legion Auxiliary by approximately 125,000 volunteer workers who receive no compensation?

That through the American Legion Auxiliary poppy program, more than $300,000 is paid annually to needy and disabled service men and service women for making the poppies?

That proceeds from the distribution of over 25,000,000 poppies annually under the guidance of the American Legion Auxiliary amount to more than $2,000,000, every penny of which is devoted to Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation work by both The American Legion and Auxiliary, which includes aid to needy veterans and their families? The method of distribution varies in each Department, depending upon the nature of the demands for help. Each of our 10,500 Units in communities scattered all over the United States , its territorial possessions, and in foreign countries where veterans reside, maintains a Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Committee working under a chairman, and a Children and Youth Committee with its chairman. These Unit chairmen are assisted by Department chairmen of similar committees, who in turn, work under the guidance of a National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Chairman and a National Children and Youth Chairman.

That the public is given an opportunity each year to help in the significant work of The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, as well as an opportunity to pay tribute to all who died in service, by wearing a poppy on Poppy Day?

National Report and Awards Cover Sheet, deadlines, and Poppy committee contact information may be found on the Poppy committee page on the national website, ALAforVeterans.org.

National Award

1. Unit Awards: Most Outstanding Unit Poppy Program
   • Award: Citation Plaque
   • Presented to: One unit in each division (5) announced by the national Poppy committee at the pre-convention meeting.
   • Materials and guidelines:
     • The entry must be typewritten in narrative format not to exceed 1,000 words.
     • The report should cover all areas of emphasis and any relevant information involving program activity and describing your use of the poppy throughout the year.

 Department Award

Shirley Harbour Award- See Auxiliary Department Unit Guide for rules

Due 30 days prior to Department Convention

 Department Chairman Award:

Most Outstanding Unit Poppy Program (Year-End)

 Presented to: One unit in each Membership Grouping The winning entry will be sent on to National

 Materials and guidelines: 

 The entry must be typewritten in narrative format not to exceed 1,000 words.  The report should cover all relevant information involving program activity describing your use of the poppies throughout the year.  Pictures are encouraged with your report.  Must include Awards Cover Sheet.

Legal Unit Name with address    

District #    

President’s Name    

Chairman’s Name    

Unit Membership Grouping        

 Send to: Department Poppy Chairman