Field Of Remembrance: Poppies To Remember Heroes Who Made Greatest Sacrifice

SOUTHOLD, NY — A memorial field of poppies has been placed for the second year in a row outside the American Legion's Griswold Terry Glover Post #803 in Southold to remember those who lost their lives to protect the United States of America.

The "Memorial Field of Poppies" was lovingly created by Southold's Griswold-Terry-Glover American Legion Post 803's Auxiliary Unit #803.

In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, Auxiliary members created a total of 500 brightly colored poppies that were placed on the lawn outside the American Legion Hall Monday and will remain there on view through Memorial Day weekend.

Families can come to view the poppies after the parade, which takes place in Mattituck this year; the project is a good way to teach children about the true meaning of Memorial Day, participants said.

The poppies were each lovingly personalized to honor individual veterans.

When the field of poppies is removed, they can be picked up to keep, or the ribbon can be mailed to the person who made the dedication.

According to Ladies Auxiliary member Donna St. Pierre, the idea was born in 2015.

St. Pierre said the field of poppies first came to mind when the group was distributing poppies outside the IGA.

"I had a dream," she said.

The poppies, she added, honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for their country.

Reflecting on how Southold High School displayed a field of flags to honor veterans, a "beautiful" gesture last year, St. Pierre said the idea of creating poppies to stand outside the Legion post took shape.

"The next morning my husband Joe had made one," she said.

St. Pierre brought it to Denise Thilberg, Auxiliary member and owner of Making Waves Hair Studio in Cutchogue.

The project kicked off in May, 2015 and has gained momentum, St. Pierre said.

The purpose of the poppy sale is twofold, St. Pierre said: To raise funds to help veterans, and to to raise awareness and keep veterans in the minds of the public.

The field of poppies was created specifically to honor those who have died heroes, protecting the nation, all involved said.

St. Pierre's husband Joe, a Vietnam veteran, created the design last year.

To create a poppy, first, she said, the bottom of a soda bottle is cut off — the project also involves recycling, she noted — and half is shaped into a flower.

Next, the 2.5 to 3-inch poppy was spray painted bright red — and, this year, colors such as purple and orange were also used, with different colors of soda bottles — and there were washers and nuts and a piece of threaded rod to keep them stable for planting outside.

Special ribbons were ordered to memorialize veterans, including their name, dates of service, rank, branch of service and what war they served in and facts about their tour of duty; that information was attached via label makers and made to withstand the elements outdoors.

The experience has been emotional, St. Pierre said last year. "People are learning things they never would have, if they hadn't decided to donate a poppy and go talk to their uncle or father or aunt. Every day, when I open these, I have tears in my eyes. It's turning out to be quite a special project."

"This is to forever memorialize all of those that sacrificed with their lives for our freedom," said Charlotte Deliteris.

"It's an emotional tribute," added Joan Cochran, ALA Unit #803 President.

And, said St. Pierre, "It was just truly a labor of love. The second time feels just as good, or even better, than the first time."

According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars website, the VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, becoming the first veterans' organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

During the 1923 encampment, the site says, the VFW decided that VFW "Buddy"® Poppies would be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who would be paid for their work to provide them with financial assistance.

In February 1924, the VFW registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. patent office. Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals, the site says. The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children, the site said.

A poem by Lieutentant Colonel John McCrae, MD, captures the essence of what poppies mean to veterans:

In Flanders Fields

"In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
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."