Support American Legion Auxiliary's Poppy Days fundraiser

Across the country, American Legion Auxiliary members will participate in the annual Poppy Days' fundraiser over Memorial Day weekend. Locally, members of American Legion Post 208, in Arlington Heights, will be out on Friday and Saturday, May 23-24, at various intersections and at store fronts requesting donations in exchange for a red crepe paper poppy that was handmade by a hospitalized veteran.

Nationally, the organization will distribute up to 7 million memorial poppies and collect close to 2 million dollars in donations. The poppy funds are earmarked for programs that assist in the rehabilitation of our veterans and support for their families. In addition, the monies are now available to assist veterans and active-duty military personnel where financial and medical need is evident.

The poppy was chosen as the memorial flower of the American Legion in 1923. Today the poppy is the nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice and is worn to honor the men and women that served and died for their country in all wars.

The American Legion Auxiliary is the world's largest patriotic women's service organization with close to 850,000 members. Throughout the year, the auxiliary members of American Legion Post 208 host projects and events that benefit area veterans. To learn more about the mission and programs of the American Legion and its auxiliary, visit www.americanlegion.org.

Learn about local Post 208 at www.americanlegionarlingtonheights.org.