In remembrance

American Legion Post 211 selling ceramic poppies

As part of its Memorial Day remembrance, American Legion Post 211, 31972 Walker Road in Avon Lake, is selling ceramic poppy flowers.

Funds from the project, led by former Post 211 Commander Mike Schrull, will help support the American Legion auxiliary.

The poppies will be planted in the field attached the Post 211, Schrull said.

Each flower, he said, will have the name of a veteran who has died, whether they fell in action, or from other causes.

“When I was down in Alabama, they had what they called the Alabama Poppy Project,” Schrull said. “I actually saw one of the poppies my sister had bought.

“She brought it home after. I said, you know, that looks like something we could kind of incorporate into the American Legion, because the American Legion is real big on poppies.”

The poppy flower project started last year with the help of ceramics class students at Avon High School, Schrull said.

“I stole my sister’s (poppy) and brought it home,” he said. “I searched out on Facebook, is there anybody who knows anybody who makes these poppies?

“Somebody suggested to me to contact the local schools, because they have ceramic classes.”

Under the guidance of Avon High ceramics teacher Karen Busch, students helped to mold and paint the poppies throughout the school year, to have them ready by Memorial Day weekend.

Busch was all over the idea from the start, and the students got to work on the ceramic flowers, Schrull said.

Following last year’s display, Post 211 received recognition for the idea from other American Legion locations around the country, including posts in Nebraska and California, he said.

“Because it was something that was new and untried, American Legions from all over the United States contacted us, wanting to buy these poppies,” Schrull said. “It kind of blossomed, because nobody had seen these before in the Legion.”

The flowers are just one part of what makes the remembrance special, he said.

“It’s a little unique to us, and it’s kind of cool because each poppy … says who’s the person that you’re remembering,” Schrull said. “So then, we make ribbons that go on each one.”

The ribbons, he said, have writings that commemorate the day that the poppy’s specific veteran died.

Post 211 received serious community support in their efforts last Memorial Day, according to Schrull.

He called the project a “joint effort” and was grateful to see so many Lorain County residents help out.

The American Legion Post’s motto, “No Veteran Left Behind,” was in full effect, Schrull said.

“What it means to me is that, we, as a community, are remembering the veterans who gave their life and their time to make America what it is,” he said.

For those looking to participate in 2023, Schrull said that ceramic poppy order forms are available at Post 211, or from the post’s Facebook page.

Each poppy is $25, and can be taken home after Memorial Day, according to the form.

“(The poppies are) a nice way to combine everything,” Schrull said. “The remembrance, getting the American Legion involved, the whole nine yards.”

SUBMITTED Members of American Legion Post 211plant ceramic poppies in front of their post before Memorial Day 2022.