In the spirit of service, join the American Legion Auxiliary on National Poppy Day by wearing or displaying poppies “to honor the fallen and support the living who have worn our nation’s uniform.”
Paper poppies, suitable for attaching to a garment, are being distributed with a request that the person receiving the flower make a donation. These voluntary gifts support veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families with medical and financial needs.
The Shelter Island American Legion Auxiliary chapter offers poppies on Friday, May 26, between 4 and 7 PM. ALA volunteers will be at American Legion Mitchell Post 281 to fulfill orders and answer questions.
In addition to picking up poppies at the ALA event on May 26, you can also make donations and get paper poppies at these businesses around the Island: Bliss’ Department Store, Dime Bank, The Eccentric Bagel, Elli’s Country Store, Maria’s Kitchen, the North Fork Animal Hospital, Rock Beverage, Shelter Island ACE Hardware, Shelter Island Wine & Liquor, and Shelter Island Heights Pharmacy.
The Shelter Island ALA also sells handmade lawn poppies that you can display outdoors year-round to show your support.
They are one for $20, two for $35, three for $55, and five for $85. To reserve yours, call Pam Jackson at 631-965-0860 or Rita Gates at 201-264-3056 (they can also arrange on-Island delivery, if necessary).
Join the American Legion Auxiliary
The nonpartisan American Legion Auxiliary helps advance the American Legion’s mission and honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of veterans, active-duty military, and their families at home and abroad.
“For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace, and security,” the ALA says on its website.
If you’d like to join, membership is $38 for adults and $7 for junior members. There are no mandatory duties. Instead, the Shelter Island chapter encourages attendance at its meetings and participation in various fundraisers and events in support of veterans and their families throughout the year.
If you’re interested in joining, call Pam Jackson or Rita Gates at the numbers listed above.
National Poppy Day
“The red poppy is a nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for our country in all wars,” the ALA says. “It reminds Americans of the sacrifices made by our veterans while protecting our freedoms.”
Countries around the world celebrate Poppy Day. The American Legion brought the tradition to the US by asking Congress to designate the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day. You can read more about the history here.
As a symbol of war casualties, the poppy started with a poem by a former Canadian military surgeon. Stationed in Flanders in the spring of 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae saw worn-torn fields blooming with bright-red poppies, prompting his poem “In Flanders Fields.”
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
