WEST MILFORD — Those bright red poppies that you see during the Memorial Day weekend have become a familiar tradition in almost every town across America. You my ask "What does the poppy flower symbolize?"
The answer - poppy flowers adorned the battlefields of France during World War I, and were looked upon by military members as a living symbol of their fallen comrades’ sacrifices.
In 1920, after World War I, the poppy became the official flower of The American Legion to memorialize the soldiers who fought and died during the war. Connecting the visual image of the poppy with the sacrifice of service made by many veterans has been the number one goal of the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program since its inception in 1921.
Around the Memorial Day and Veterans Day holidays, millions of the red crepe paper poppies are handmade by veterans whenever possible. This is part of their therapeutic rehabilitation. The poppies are distributed by the American Legion Auxiliary in exchange for donations.
"It's so very important that people donate whatever amount they can because every cent goes directly to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans and their families right here in our local community," said Allison Kern, the newly-installed president of the West Milford American Legion Auxiliary Post 289.
This weekend, you will see members of the American Legion Auxiliary at various locations and walking in the parade on Monday, carrying the bright red poppies and donation cans to give you a chance to help those veterans in need and their families.
"This is such a great program," Kern said. "It allows the entire community to join together to help the veterans right here in West Milford, because, again, 100 percent of the donations go direct to these families."
- Don Webb
For those who may not have the chance to get a poppy and donate to the Legion, they may make a donation by sending a check or money order made payable to the American Legion Auxiliary. Mail it to American Legion Auxiliary Post 289, Attn: Allison Kern, PO Box 289, West Milford NJ 07480. Write "Poppy Fund" in the memo.