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PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT PLAN

Click for National PEP information 

Wisconsin Focus:

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PURPOSE: The Poppy Program is to educate ALA membership and the public on the significance of the poppy and the program’s financial benefit for veterans, military, and their families. 

 

DEADLINES/IMPORTANT DATES:

  • May 1: Units select one winning Poppy Poster from each class and forward them to the Department Chairman (complete Poppy Poster cover form).

  • May 1: Units select one Little Miss Poppy and forward her nomination to the Department Chairman (complete Little Miss Poppy Department Nomination Award form).

  • April 1: Submit Poppy Award Cover Sheet with narrative for judging as Most Outstanding Unit Poppy Program to the Department Chairman.

  • National Poppy Day 2026: May 22 (always Friday before Memorial Day)

  • To be considered for a national award, the unit must submit its entry on the National website (https://www.legion-aux.org/National-Awards-Form). 

 

GET INVOLVED

Promote the Poppy Program and increase revenue.

  • Wear a poppy to promote conversation and interest.

  • Educate your community about how funds collected help veterans, servicemembers, and their families.

  • Contact local businesses for permission to distribute poppies on their premises. Make sure you have permission for liability purposes; in some instances, permits are required.

  • Send a thank you to businesses that allow distribution. Consider using the Poppy Poster thank you cards, available through Emblem Sales for communication.

  • Organize a department poppy drive with the American Legion family. Encourage the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion, Legion Riders, and ALA Junior members to join poppy distributions in your community.
     

Educate your community on the meaning and history of the poppy.

  • Offer to speak to local civic engagements about the meaning and significance of the poppy and how poppy funds help veterans, servicemembers, and their families.

  • Promote the ALA Poppy Poster Contest in your local schools and youth groups.

  • Promote the Little Miss Poppy Contest to Juniors in your unit.

 

Celebrate National Poppy Day

  • Wear a red crepe paper poppy made by a Wisconsin Veteran all day and tell everyone why.

  • Distribute poppies to friends, co-workers, and family and tell everyone why.

  • Tell the story on social media of who you are wearing your poppy to remember or support on National Poppy Day. Don’t forget to tag @ALAforVeterans and use these hashtags:

    • #NationalPoppyDay

    • #AmericanLegionAuxiliary

  • Promote the Wisconsin-made YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6LN5JsQVQ4

  • For more information see https://member.legion-aux.org/member/committees/poppy/poppy-days

Poppy
Program

Kathy Grom, Dept Chairman
Email: kathy.grom@gmail.com

Kathy Grom.jpg

The purpose of the Poppy Program is to honor veterans for their service and sacrifice by promoting the circulation of the poppy, educating all people of the poppy's history, and the significant financial benefit realized by our nation's veterans as a result of its distribution. Efforts should be made to increase unit poppy revenues and the number of poppy makers for department.

ALA units and Legion posts are encouraged to distribute poppies in their local communities and surrounding areas if there is no other active Legion Family presence. The Legion Family should respect neighboring units and posts' privilege to distribute poppies in their respective areas and work towards a spirit of cooperation.

The Little Miss Poppy Contest (ages 6-12) and the Poppy Poster Contest are under the direction of the Department Poppy Chair.

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Important Dates

Poppy Resources & Information:

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2025-2026 District Chairmen:

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District 1 - Sam Catura

District 2 - N/A        

District 3 - Connie Skelton            

District 4 - Judy  Breitzmann         

District 5 - N/A             

District 6 - Patti Julius                    

​District 7 - TBA

District 8 - N/A

District 9 - Deanna Farley

District 10 - N/A

District 11 - Sandra Dane

District 12 - N/A

Worksheets:

2025-2026 National Poppy Program Awards Deadlines and Submission Requirements

Thank you for taking the time to share a favorite story about the positive impact you or someone you know has had on our mission! Your story may inspire another member into service. It also helps us tell the world who we are, what we do, and why we matter.

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Here are the national awards for this committee:

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Poppy Poster Contest

May 1:  Units may select one winning Poppy Poster for each class and forward them to the Department Chairman using the entry form in the Poppy Program Engagement Plan for judging.

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Units shall sponsor contests in local schools. When schools do not conduct activities, other youth groups — including Junior members — may participate under direct supervision of the unit.

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Contest Classes:

  • Class I: Grades 2 and 3

  • Class II: Grades 4 and 5

  • Class III: Grades 6 and 7

  • Class IV: Grades 8 and 9

  • Class V: Grades 10 and 11

  • Class VI: Grade 12

  • Class VII: Students with special needs defined as:

  1. Those in special education classes.

  2. A student recommended for special education classes but who has not been admitted due to a waiting list or various other factors.

  3. A child identified as having a disability, but not in a special education class due to lack of facilities; identification contingent upon discretion of school officials.

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Poppy Poster Requirements:

  1. Each poster shall have a fitting slogan not to exceed 10 words. Articles “a”, “and,” “an”, “the” are not to be counted as words. The words “buddy” and “buy” cannot be used.

  2. The words “American Legion Auxiliary” must be used in the design of the poster and will not be counted in the 10-word count.

  3. Each poster must include a red poppy.

  4. The department shall determine the closing date of the unit contest. The poster shall be on 11x14” poster board. (Drawing paper will not be accepted).

  5. The United States flag may be used as long as there are no infractions of the flag code.

  6. Posters will be judged using the following criteria:

    • 50% - poster appeal (layout, message, originality)

    • 40% - artistic ability (design and color)

    • 10% - neatness

  7. Media used shall be watercolors, crayons, powder or oil paint, handmade paper cutouts, ink or textures, acrylics, pencils, and markers.

  8. Written in ink on the back of the poster (not attached) shall be the class in which the entry is submitted, the name, address, age, and grade of the contestant and the name of the department.

  9. Submissions become property of the American Legion Auxiliary. Through submission of artwork, contestants and their legal guardians grant non-exclusive reproduction and publication rights to the works submitted and agree to have their names and artwork published for commercial use without additional compensation or permission.

  10. The poster shall be the work of only one individual.

  11. The label “In Memoriam” from the veteran-made poppy may not be used.

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Poppy Poster Contest Judging and Awards:

  1. Each department shall establish its own procedure for judging.

  2. A citation will be given for the most outstanding poster in each classification within the five divisions.

  3. Unit members should follow deadlines and process for the department. All department entries are due to the division chairman by June 1.

  4. While ALA representatives will do their best to return all posters, it is not guaranteed. We recommend participants take a picture or scan their poster for their records.

  5. Submissions become property of the American Legion Auxiliary. Through submission of artwork, contestants and their legal guardians grant nonexclusive reproduction and publication rights to the works submitted and agree to have their names and artwork published for commercial use without additional compensation or permission.

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Little Miss Poppy

  • Units may select one Little Miss Poppy and forward her nomination to the Department Chairman using the nomination form in the Poppy Program Engagement Plan.

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Unit Award: Most Outstanding Unit Poppy Program for Central Division

  • All unit entries must be submitted to the department chairman by April 1st using the entry form in the Poppy Program Engagement Plan.

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Authorization to Release Personal Information:

Award submissions become property of the American Legion Auxiliary. Through submission of reports and award entries, the submitter grants non-exclusive 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.

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Please fill out the information as completely and accurately as possible. Award certificates will be completed using the information provided on the entry form, so please be sure to complete it 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.

American Legion Auxiliary Department of Wisconsin

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