Our American Legion Auxiliary Poppy is hand-made by the veterans for which the veteran receives money for each poppy made. Many of these veterans are in VA Medical Centers, and in some cases, the therapeutic benefits derived are most helpful to them. Promoting public awareness and the history and the purpose of the Poppy is part of this program. Contacting schools to enter Poppy Poster contests and displaying posters in a store window enhances public awareness.
Key Program Statements:
- Promote the Poppy Program and increase revenue.
- Educate your community on the meaning and the history of the poppy.
- Celebrate National Poppy Day.
- Increase the number of poppy makers in your community.
Department Chairman: Kathy Soule
Email: nyalapoppy@gmail.com
2025-2026 Information and Report Forms:
- 2025-2026 Plan of Action
- 2025-2026 COUNTY REPORT FORM
- 2025-2026 UNIT REPORT FORM
- 2025-2026 POPPY ORDER FORM (fillable pdf)
Important Dates
- Department Chairman Report due to National Committee: May 15
- Department and Unit Award Nomination Form Completed and Submitted: June 1
National Poppy Day is the Friday before Memorial Day.
Poppy Poster Contest All department entries must be sent by the department chairman to national division chairman postmarked by 5 p.m. EST on June 1.
Little Miss Poppy All entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. EST on June 1.
Unit Award: Most Outstanding Unit Poppy Program (per division) submitted by 5 p.m. EST on June 1.
Department Award: Best Department Poppy Program (per division) submitted by 5 p.m. EST on June 1.
Unit Award: Most Outstanding Unit Poppy Program (per division)
- All unit entries must be submitted via electronic form by 5 p.m. EST on June 1.
Note: You will receive a confirmation when your award is submitted.
Department Award: Best Department Poppy Program (per division)
- All department entries must be submitted via electronic form by 5 p.m. EST on June 1.
Note: You will receive a confirmation when your award is submitted.
Little Miss Poppy
- More information on National Little Miss Poppy Contest: https://member.legion-aux.org/Member/Awards/Little-Miss-Poppy-Contest
Poppy Poster Contest
- Please note – for the Poppy Poster Contest, refer to your department for submission guidelines.
- Poppy Poster Contest rules are available at: https://www.legion-aux.org/National-Poppy-Poster-Contest .
Last years (2025) Eastern Division Winner:
Class III
Morgan Darrow
Dept of New York
Eastern Division
National Awards Form Link: https://www.legion-aux.org/National-Awards-Form
Questions? Contact Poppy@ALAforVeterans.org
Fine Print:
Award submissions become property of the American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters. Through submission of reports and award entries, the submitter grants nonexclusive reproduction and publication rights to the materials submitted and agrees to have their names and submission published for ALA use or commercial use without additional compensation or permission.
Please fill out the information as completely and accurately as possible. Award certificates will be completed using the information given on this sheet, so please be sure to complete the electronic form in its entirety.
Please refer to the webpage for the specific criteria such as photographs, narrative length, submission deadline, and point of contact. All awards will be mailed to the department office after ALA National Convention. Department presidents may wish to recognize award recipients by presenting them with the award at a department function.
Poppy Day Resources
Poppy Days have become a familiar tradition in almost every American community. This distribution of the bright red memorial flower to the public is one of the oldest and most widely recognized programs of the American Legion Auxiliary.
There are many items you can distribute in exchange for donations in addition to the traditional crepe paper poppy.