Poppy Distribution

The Legion Family raises community awareness about its Poppy Program year-round, but distribution of poppies is prominent around Memorial Day and Veterans Day – men, women and children will wear a poppy to show gratitude to America’s fallen heroes, veterans and those currently serving in uniform. Distribution of poppies is conducted in various forms, such as outside a grocery store, post office or Wal-Mart, or by mail.
The poppy flower adorned the battlefields of Flanders Field in France during World War I, and was looked upon by those serving 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 Family to memorialize the soldiers who fought and died during the war, and distribution of poppies became a Legion national program in 1924. To this day, thanks in large part to the American Legion Auxiliary, the poppy is nationally recognized and worn as a symbol of sacrifice made by the men and women who served and died for their country during a time of war.