Lawrence Bauer American Post # 45 in Hastings will accept donations for poppies during May 18, 19 and 20 during Post #45 Auxiliary Poppy Days. Thursday, May 18 volunteers will be at K-Mart and Wal-Mart;  Friday, May 19 at K-Mart and Family Fare and Saturday. May 20 at K-Mart, Family Fare and Wal-Mart.

Since its inception, the red poppy signifying the blood lost by millions of Allied soldiers in World War 1, has lived up to its motto: “To honor the dead by helping the living,” by directly benefitting thousands of disabled American veterans. The movement is said to have been inspired by a poem by Colonel John McCrae.

 

Flander's Field by John McCrae:

 

“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.”