OCEAN COUNTY AUXILIARY
WE ARE THE MALE AND FEMALE SPOUSES, GRANDMOTHERS, MOTHERS, SISTERS, AND DIRECT AND ADOPTED FEMALE DESCENDANTS OF MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. SOME OF US ARE VETERANS OURSELVES.
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Ocean County
Auxiliary President Deb Lasky 
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After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe. Scientists attributed the growth to soils in France and Belgium becoming enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war. From the dirt and mud grew a beautiful red poppy. The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the publication of the wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D. while serving on the front lines.
On September 27, 1920, the poppy became the official flower of The American Legion family to memorialize the soldiers who fought and died during the war. In 1924, the distribution of poppies became a national program of The American Legion. |