Are we ready for National Poppy Day?

By Lorinda Kies, Poppy Chairman Published May 15, 2025

The Aitkin High School Life Skills group has been putting poppies together since the end of January. Instructor Kelly Klein’s father is a Korean War veteran and when she heard about the poppy-making program, she asked whether her group of about 10 could try it. They are doing a great job, and they have completed about 900 for Aitkin Unit 86. The unit really appreciates all their help with this project!

This has been a year of learning more about the memorial flower, the poppy. In World War I the poppy came to symbolize the bloodshed by those who fought and those who continue to fight for our country.

The poppy became the memorial flower of The American Legion on Sept. 27, 1920, in Cleveland.

Poppy Day is celebrated in countries around the world. In 2017, The American Legion brought National Poppy Day to the United States by asking Congress to designate the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day. That is how it officially became that day. The National Poppy Day is the Friday before Memorial Day.

Does your unit have plans for Memorial Day? To honor the fallen? Remember: Poppies are not sold by volunteers, they are distributed.

Ask them if they would like to wear a poppy, if asked what they cost tell them nothing it is a way to honor the fallen. We are more than willing to take any donations offered.

Identify a specific purpose for which you are collecting your poppy money. For example, maybe you want to make $1,500 for Honor Flights so more veterans and their helpers can attend.

Plan to set up a card table in a busy area, or have a smaller table to hold poppies, your collection container and maybe a few coloring pages from the poppy coloring book.

When you are distributing poppies, have fun, be joyful and be branded. You are representing the American Legion Family when you are out in the public.

Have support materials to share. These could include the poppy coloring book, decorating your poppy collection container with poppies. Bring along membership brochures in case you meet someone who wants to join.

Be aware, know where the other units in your area will be, you don’t want to be in the same area as other areas could get missed.

Don’t forget to have your SAL members and post members to help, you won’t believe how much money those little SAL members can bring in.

Be sure to document your activities and share with ALA National Headquarters. Tell them your plans, send pictures and then make plans for the next year. Work with your public relations chairman, teamwork is the key to success.

The National American Legion Auxiliary website offers a variety of resources to assist you.

Have fun promoting National Poppy Day. I can’t wait to hear all about your unit’s adventures.