Special to Atmore News
The American Legion Poppy Program is an important part of the American Legion Auxiliary mission.
To represent the Poppy Program for the American Legion Auxiliary, two of the Junior Auxiliary members are selected each year to be ambassadors for this program. This year the ambassadors are Miss Poppy Ainsley Emmons and Little Miss Poppy Jordan Salter.
In the spring of 1919, poppies bloomed abundantly on the battlefields of France where so many men had fallen in battle. A replica of this poppy has become the memorial flower of the American Legion Family.
Poppies are offered to those who wish to wear them. They are NOT SOLD, but donations are accepted. One hundred percent of proceeds from poppy distribution are used for welfare relief for servicemen and servicewomen and their families. Some of the proceeds are returned to the department annually to pay needy and disabled servicepersons to make the poppies. The remainder of donations are used locally for veteran rehabilitation and welfare.
In this area, some funds are used to provide recreation and entertainment for veterans in the W.F. Green Veterans Home in Bay Minette.
At Christmas, the Auxiliary provides holiday dinners to families of needy veterans.
Other needs are submitted and evaluated by the Auxiliary group.
The original Poppy National Day is the Friday before Memorial Day. Some units choose this time period to do poppy distribution. In Atmore, the Auxiliary chose the time around Veterans Day.
Remember what our veterans and military have done for this country.
God bless America !