Poppy Day
Dear Unit President and Poppy Chairman,
Please read and feel free to print and share all information provided in your Poppy
Packet.
The distribution of the red crepe paper poppies has become a familiar tradition in almost every
American community since the inception of the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program in
1921. The Poppy Program raises community awareness by educating the public about the
symbol of the poppy and respect for sacrifice of service made by our veterans. The financial
impact of the distribution of the memorial flower directly assist disabled and hospitalized
veterans in our communities as well as providing therapeutic rehabilitation.
Tips to elevate community awareness and how to have a successful Poppy Day
1. Contact the Local Media & News Paper two weeks in advance and ask them to
help you get the word out about your poppy drive.
2. Print flyers and post them around town.
3. Set up in front of a grocery store or Wal-mart, because they are always busy.
4. Draw attention to your table with balloons, centerpiece, a banner with your units
name and a printed poster of where donation goes.
5. Only have one person working the table and one person on every entrance.
6. Every member working the drive must have a hand-full or basket of poppies and
a donation can with DONATIONS printed on it.
7. Approach every person that enters or exit the store and ask for donations for
disable veterans.
8. Have fun, but most of all remember that you are there to raise funds and not to
socialized with each other, so make every minute count.
(This has worked for me on every fundraiser I have ever participated in. I use this technique with
our unit’s poppy drive and on the average we raised anywhere from $700 to $1100 in donations).
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Have Fun and Get Creative with your Poppies
Promote Poppy Day during the month of May for Memorial Day and in November for
Veterans Day. Make the memorial poppy very visible to the public by promoting the
Poppy Posters in your community schools. Print flyers and post them around town
asking kids to participate in Poppy Poster Contest. There is publicity help available
from Emblem Sales and news releases for the media that will be sent to you
periodically. I have enclosed a sample of a proclamation proclaiming Poppy Week to
help assist your unit. I encourage all the units to plan ahead, get creative with your
poppies and participate in the following contest;
Poppy Poster Contest: Promote the Poppy Poster Contest in your community schools. The
posters need to be sent directly to me by June 1st. Information and guidelines are enclosed in
your packet.
Poppy Centerpiece & Hat Contest: the Poppy Centerpiece and Hat Contest will be held at
convention. The poppy centerpieces and hats will be judged at convention. We will have a hat
parade if we have enough entries.
Poppy Corsage Contest: The corsage contest will be held at the Mid Year Convention. We
need 250 corsages that will be given to our own Girl State Delegates.
If you need more poppy’s for your unit any time of the year, there is always some
available thru the Department. Please feel free to contact me if you have any assistants
with the Poppy Contest or if you have any suggestions.
POPPY/COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
Chairman: Julie Dominguez– Aysse
526 Milleman Street – Palisade, CO 81526 – Ph. (970) 623-0146
(I work nights on
Tuesday, so please leave a message and with the latest time I could call and I will retune your call after 6 pm.
During the week)
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Eleanor Rothbarth Poppy Plaque Award Criteria
2016 – 2017
Department President’s theme
“MANY HANDS WORKING TOGETHER”
Entries are to be in a standard file folder, such as those that are colored and have pockets and
prongs. Entries are to be sent to the Department Poppy Chairman:
POPPY CHAIRMAN
Julie Dominguez-Aysse
526 Milleman Street
Palisade, CO 81526
Phone (970) 623-0146
Email: [email protected]
Please fill out the enclosed application for the contest and send to the address above. All entries
must be four (4) pages and will be judged on a point system based on a total of 100 points.
THE FOLDER
First Page – 10 points
A. Picture of the Unit President or the Poppy Chairman
B. Unit Name and Number
C. Year 2015 2016
Second Page – 20 points
A. Poem “In Flanders Field”
B. Poem typed, centered and double-spaced
Third Page – 30 points
Theme for 2016-2017 will be a centerpiece no longer than 22”x24”. You may incorporate the
Department President’s theme & state how many poppies were used to create your entry.
A. A picture or drawing of your piece, 10 points.
B. The centerpiece will be displayed at the Department Convention, 10 points.
C. Candidates will display their centerpiece in a parade at convention, 10 points.
Fourth Page – 40 points
A. A written essay of not more than 200 words on your Unit involvement in the Poppy
Program and the Unit’s unique uses/ideas for the Poppy.
B. Include pictures of the above.
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Poppy Contest Application
Poppy Chairman Name: _________________________________ Phone: (
) ____________
E-mail Address: ____________________________________
Unit Name: ____________________________________________ Unit # _________
City: ____________________________________
(Please fill in area that applies to items being entered in contest).
CENTERPIECE & HAT
Theme of Poppy Centerpiece: _____________________________________________________
How many poppies used Centerpiece: ________
How many poppies used in Hat: _______
Centerpiece Designed by: ____________________________________
Hat Designed by: ____________________________________
CORSAGE
How many poppies used Corsage: ________
Corsage Designed by: ____________________________________
POSTER
Title of Poster: _________________________________________________________________
Name of poster designer: ___________________________________________ Age : _______
Name of School: _________________________________________________
Grade: _______
City: ______________________________
Please note: Make a copy of the application and mail it with poster directly to me by June 1st.
Please mail to: POPPY CHAIRMAN Julie Dominguez-Aysse
526 Milleman Street - Palisade, CO 81526 - Phone (970) 623-0146
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Only A Paper Poppy
Only some paper petals
with two leaves of paper too
only a paper poppy.
Does, it mean anything more to you?
The red is for the courage
of the ones who fought and bled
and then came back to spend their days
in the ranks of the living dead.
The green of the leaves reminds me
of the sunny hillsides over the sea
where rest the war torn bodies
of those who died that war might
cease to be.
The cup that is formed by the petals
covers a heart of gold.
It stands for a labor of love
whose value can never be told.
Only a paper poppy
but it holds the hopes and fears
of numberless and their love ones
as they carry on through the years.
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Anonymous
American Legion Auxiliary Media Fact Sheet
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
8945 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260
www.ALAforVeterans.org
Contact: Stacy Poca, 317-569-4500 or [email protected]
Memorial Poppy
WHAT:
Seven million memorial poppies are distributed each year by American Legion Auxiliary
members across the country to provide a therapeutic activity for veterans, raise awareness and
raise funds to help veterans, military service members and their families.
Red crepe paper poppies symbolize the sacrifices made by our military service members.
Two million dollars are donated by people receiving the poppies each year. Up until
recently,100% of the donated funds were used to help veterans. Due to the great needs of today’s
military families, The American Legion recently voted to expand the use of newly-collected
funds to active duty service members and their families who demonstrate a financial or medical
need. Most of the funds collected stay in the communities where they were collected.
Veterans who make the poppies are paid a small stipend for their efforts.
The poppy was inspired by the famous wartime poem, “In Flanders Fields” by Lt. Col. John
McCrae, which begins “In Flanders Fields the poppies blow between the crosses row on row…” (see
attached for full text)
The tradition of the memorial poppy can be traced to a single individual beginning in November
1918, Ms. Moina Michael, who bought a bouquet of poppies and handed them to businessmen
where she worked. She asked them to wear the poppy as a tribute to the fallen of World War I.
WHO:
The American Legion Auxiliary has nearly 800,000 member volunteers serving veterans,
military service members, and their families.
There are 22,658,000 veterans in the U.S. military.* That is 7% of the U.S. citizenry, based on
2010 census data. Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest
women’s patriotic service organization. Its mission to serve veterans, the military and their
families is carried out through hundreds of outreach programs delivered by its member
volunteers.
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WHEN:
Memorial poppies are generally distributed on patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day and
Veterans Day each year.
WHERE:
Poppies are distributed in various places throughout local communities. American Legion
Auxiliary members can be found with poppies on sidewalks, in front of stores, at local meetings
and more.
American Legion Auxiliary members are active in more than 9,000 communities nationwide
and around the world.
The American Legion Auxiliary’s National Headquarters are located in Indianapolis. To learn
more visit www.ALAforVeterans.org.
WHY:
Our volunteer military has been fighting American’s longest war for 12 years. Less than 1
percent of Americans serve in uniform today, but they bear 100 percent of the burden of
defending our nation.**
Currently, more than 2.2 million service members make up America’s all-volunteer force in the
active, National Guard, and Reserve components. Fifty-five percent of the force is married and
40 percent have two children.**
Only 37 percent of our families live on military installations; the remaining 63 percent live in
more than 4,000 communities nationwide.**
There are 1.8 million veterans age 35 and younger.* Their lives have been changed forever by
their service to our country, and like all veterans, we owe them a debt of gratitude in making sure
they are cared for.
There are 3.5 million veterans with a service-connected disability.*
There were a record high number of veteran suicides in 2012, and the suicide rate among active
duty has increased 15% in the last two years. One veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes.*
*From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
**From President Obama’s Strengthening Our Military Families report, January 2011
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Poppy Programs and Activities - Poppy Poster Contest
1. Units shall sponsor contests in local schools. When schools do not conduct activities, other youth groups
— including junior members — may participate under direct supervision of the unit.
2. The contest shall have seven classes:
Class I Grades 2 and 3
Class II Grades 4 and 5
Class III Grades 6 and 7
Class IV Grades 8 and 9
Class V Grades 10 -11
Class VI Grade 12
Class VII Students with special needs defined as:
a. Those in special education classes.
b. A student recommended for special education classes, but who has not been admitted due to a waiting
list or various other factors.
c. A child identified as having a disability, but not in a special education class due to lack of facilities;
identification contingent upon discretion of school officials.
Poppy Poster Requirements:
1. Each poster shall have a fitting slogan not to exceed 10 words. Articles “a,”“and,” “an,” “the” are not to be
counted as words. The words “buddy” and “buy” cannot be used.
2. The words “American Legion Auxiliary” must be used in the design of the poster and will not be counted
in the l0-word count.
3. Each poster must include a picture of the Flanders Poppy in the correct color (four red petals with a
center of green and black).
4. The poppy shall have four petals and no leaves.
5. The department shall determine the closing date of the unit contest. The poster shall be on 11”x14”
poster board. (Drawing paper will not be accepted).
6. The United States flag may be used as long as there are no infractions of the flag code.
7. Posters will be judged using the following criteria:
a. 50% -- poster appeal (layout, message, originality)
b. 40% -- artistic ability (design and color)
c. 10% -- neatness
8. Media used shall be watercolors, crayons, powder or oil paint, handmade paper cutouts, ink or textures,
acrylics, pencils and markers.
9. Written in ink on the back of the poster (not attached) shall be the class in which the entry is submitted,
the name, address, age and grade of the contestant and the name of the department.
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DRAFT
For examples on how to implement each objective in this refer to the How To component at the end of this
Poppy 4 Poppy
10. The poster shall be the work of only one individual
.
11. No humorous drawings or slogans shall be used.
12. The label “In Memoriam” from the veteran-made poppy may not be used.
13. When the Holy Cross is used, the Star of David also shall be used. Judging and Awards
JUDGING
1. Each department shall establish its own procedure for judging.
2. A citation will be given for the most outstanding poster in each classification within the five divisions.
3. All entries are due to the division chairman by May 1, 2015.
4. The division chairman will send the best overall poster from her division to the Auxiliary magazine editor
by June 15, 2014, so the photographs of the winning posters can be published. Only one winner from each
division will be accepted.
5. While department and divisional will do their best to return all posters, it is not guaranteed. We
recommend participants take a picture or scan their poster for their records.
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Poppy Funds
Poppy Funds May Be Used For The Following:
1. Rehabilitation of veterans honorably discharged from the U.S. Forces after April 6, 1917.
2. For the welfare of families of veterans of the above-named periods.
3. For the rehabilitation of hospitalized servicewomen and servicemen awaiting discharge
who require treatment in service facilities.
4. To defray the expenses of Children & Youth and VA & R Chairmen and Committee
members of Facility Volunteer Schools in attending authorized conference at which they
are accredited representatives.
5. To defray the administrative expenses of Service Departments provided that both The
American Legion and Auxiliary Departments approve such use of funds within the
Department.
6. For the transportation expenses of Facilities and Field Service Volunteers.
7. For purchase of uniforms for Facility and Field Service Volunteers.
Poppy Funds May Not Be used For The Following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Children of non-veterans
ALA Girl State fees
POW/MIAS
General funds of Unit
Auxiliary Emergency Fund
Our primary concerns should be spreading the Poppy Story and dispersing Poppies every
chance we get.
Reminder:
1. We Do Not Sell Poppies, we take donations.
2. Take the time to thank the veterans that make our poppies. Send a Thank You note,
make cookies for them or just visit them.
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PROCLAMATON
For Poppy Week
WHEREAS: 2013 marks the Anniversary of the World War 1 Poppy; and,
WHEREAS: the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit is celebrating its annual Poppy salute
to Veterans through the week of
, 2015; and,
WHEREAS: the annual recognition of Poppy’s by the Auxiliary has been officially
recognized and endorsed by governmental leaders since 1922, and,
WHEREAS: Poppy’s are assembled by disabled Veterans, and the proceeds of this
worthwhile fund raising are used exclusively for the benefit of veterans and their
families; and,
WHEREAS: the basic purpose of the donation to Poppy’s to the American Legion
Auxiliary is eloquently reflected in the desire to help all Veterans.
THEREFORE, I, Mayor of the City of
, 2015, as
, proclaim the Week of
POPPY WEEK
And do hereby urge the citizens of this community to recognize and support the merits of this
cause by contribution to its support through donation for Poppy’s as symbols of appreciation for
the sacrifices that our Veterans have made.
Witness my hand this day of
, 2015.
, Mayor
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