April 24, 2024
By Heath Scofield
This May, American Legion Post 283 in Pickerington is once again collecting donations for poppy pinwheels, as part of a memorial tradition dating back to the First World War.
The Poppy Motif comes from Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s famous poem “In Flanders Fields”, which describes the widespread growth of the Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas) across the disturbed topsoil of Northwestern Belgium caused by the Second Battle of Ypres. For more information about the history of the poppy’s significance, please click here.
This is the third year that Post 283 will be raising funds and awareness through its field of pinwheel poppies, however they have been providing paper poppies, made by disabled veterans, for as long as their members can remember. The paper poppies are worn by those participating in the annual Memorial Day Ceremony and are also available in the Post’s lounge for anyone who is interested in wearing one.
The American Legion’s poppy pinwheels will be placed the week before Memorial Day and remain on display until June 1. All raised funds will go towards the Post #283 Auxiliary Poppy Fund in support of Veteran’ causes.
“Our Unit is involved in the Columbus Stand Down for Homeless Veterans.” said Wendy Robertson, the President of Unit 283’s Auxiliary. “A lot of our money is used to provide winter clothing (socks, gloves, sweatshirts, hats, denture cleaner, toothpaste/toothbrushes, etc.) this occurs in October. We hold two events at the VA Chillicothe Hospital for patients. We provide money to Fisher Houses, funds for Military Families, a couple of different programs for veterans with PTSD (Guide Dogs, H.O.O.V.E.S.) and support for Women Veterans. We also donate to Honor Flights for Veterans.”
To donate to the Poppy Fund, one can do so online through https://www.alpost283.org/poppy-fund, however donations can be made offline by making a check out to Auxiliary Unit #283 and mailing it to the American Legion Post Auxiliary Unit 283 (7725 Refugee Road, Pickerington).
The Auxiliary suggests a donation amount of $5.00 but any amount is appreciated.
‘Our Legion post is very dedicated to helping veterans,” Robertson said. “We hold other fundraisers during the year to make sure we can help as many veterans as possible. The Auxiliary hosts cook out nights during the summer (members and families only); we put together baskets to be raffled off and we have an open to the public Euchre Tournament.
The SAL holds a golf outing and this year it’s on Saturday, May 18. Anyone who likes to play golf can sign a team up and have a great time including a steak dinner. Our Honor Guard holds a steak night on the last Friday of the month (with the exception of May 24) for the public and it has been very successful.”
