Tomorrow and Sunday, you can honor the meaning of Memorial Day by accepting a poppy from representatives of American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary Unit 160, who will be distributing them at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). Post 160’s Kyle Geraghty explains:
The traditional poppy distributed Memorial Day weekend signifies “honor the dead and help the living.”
The poppy as the memorial flower for the American war dead is a tradition which began in the years following World War I. Veterans remembered the bright red, wild poppies which grew and bloomed on the battle fields and graves of those men buried in the sacred plots of French soil, which was Flanders’ Field. Soldiers of all nations came to look upon this flower as a living symbol of their dead comrades’ sacrifice and a sign of hope and renewal for those who lived to remember.
Today, the poppies distributed Memorial Day weekend are made by hospitalized veterans in V.A. hospitals or nursing homes and thousands are ready for a big distribution in May.
West Seattle American Legion Post 160 and the Unit 160 Auxiliary will be continuing the annual tradition of offering poppies this Memorial Day weekend. All money received during the distribution of these poppies is returned to the veterans through service programs of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary.
When you see someone offering a poppy, know that your donation helps veterans and wearing the poppy shows your support for those veterans.
Post 160 and Unit 160 plan to be at Thriftway 10 am-3 pm both days.
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