Gehlen Poppy Day winners announced

LeMars Gehlen Catholic middle school students participated in a Poppy Week poster contest through the American Legion Auxiliary Post #241. Three winners were named.

Poppy Day is designated to honor the men and women who have served/are serving in the United States armed forces and fought to keep our country free, a day to pay special tribute to the red, the white and the blue, a day we thank God for all of the freedoms with which we are so truly blessed.

Since 1921 the poppy has been the memorial flower of the American Legion Auxiliary.  It was on the French battlefields that many poppies bloomed; it was here that it became a symbol of the tragedy of war and renewal of life following World War I. The red on the flower stands for courage and the green leaves remind us of the torn bodies.  It was in the early 1920’s that the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars began selling poppies for the benefit of disabled and needy veterans.

            Poppy Week is usually observed as the week that ends on the Saturday before Memorial Day.  However, Gehlen Catholic sixth grade students learned about it earlier in the year as part of a unit on good poster design. In art class, they created posters to enter into the annual poster contest. The students were glad to show their support and express their gratitude to all veterans for the sacrifices they made and continue to make for our country.
            The Legion Auxiliary members judged the sixth grade posters using the following criteria: poster appeal (layout, message, and originality), artistic ability (design and color) and neatness.  A total of 35 posters were entered from Gehlen Catholic. Congratulations to the following winners from this year’s local contest:
                        
1^st        Harper Gries (overall winner)  
            
                Savannah Hitchler
                
                                                                            
2nd      Kalen Paulson                       
 
Ady Blair
 
 
3^rd       Carson Loutsch         
            
                Bryce Thoms
                
 
Harper’s winning poster is currently in competition at the district level.  

This year, Poppy Day is celebrated on May 14.  At this time, many of the windows in the Le Mars business district will be decorated with these patriotic posters.  This is just a small way these young artists can pay tribute to our brave servicemen and women.

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