Nathan Steele visits LW’s American Legion Auxiliary

A dedicated group of women is working diligently to assemble approximately 27,000 poppies this year for the American Legion Auxiliary in Leisure World. LWers will most likely see these hard working women around the community with handmade poppies for Poppy Day on May 26. All are encouraged to make a donation and wear their poppies proudly in support of veterans. Donations from the poppy drive will go to veterans and their families.

Meeting the needs of veterans should be the concern of every American who values his or her freedom. The Auxiliary promotes the poppy as a symbol of the sacrifices military have made. The poppy has signified remembrance and hope throughout history. Today, poppies carry a message of peace with an underlying sentiment of soldier’s sacrifice as they tend to grow on war-torn fields. They were often the first type of vegetation to regrow on destroyed battlefields, which were rich in lime deposits, due to the rubble. This provided optimal soil for their growth. War veteran John McCrae’s famous poem, “In Flanders Field,” mentions the poppies. McCrae composed this poem the day after his best friend was killed in battle.

Seal Beach City Councilman Nathan Steele (r) joined the American Legion Auxiliary's meeting in April.