Letter: Poppies

EDITOR:

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 108 of Prescott Valley would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Fry's Food Store, Safeway Food Store and Ace Hardware for their support in allowing our members to distribute Crepe Paper Poppies made by our local VA veterans. We thank the entire community for their donations that will go 100 percent to aid our veterans and their families.

The Poppy Program is the oldest and probably the best known of our many programs. It began during WWI when it was noted that there was a presence of red poppies among rows of white crosses on the deserted battlefields of western Belgium and northern France. The last stanza of a poem entitled "We Shall Not Sleep," later renamed "In Flanders Fields," states: "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."

It is our mission and hope that all will remember those who have perished during all the wars and conflicts that this country has been involved with. We honor those veterans by distributing, annually, red poppies of remembrance.

We thank all who understand the sacrifices that these men and women have made. We, as an American Legion Post and Auxiliary, try to give back to those who continue to give of themselves in the service of our country and for the way of life that we all enjoy. God bless the United States of America.

Diane MacKaben

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 108

Prescott Valley