BEREA, Ohio -- Last year, American Legion Post 91 Auxiliary created a permanent poppy garden in observance of Memorial Day. Jason Giaco of Giaco Mower of Fairview Park made 107 poppies to get the garden under way. This year, Auxiliary Poppy chair Stacy Lehmann connected with Polaris Career Center’s welding class to add to the collection.
The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance. Most of us recall the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian John McCrae. Its opening line reads, “In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row.
” Members of American Legion Post 91 and the Post 91 Auxiliary collect the metal poppies created by welding students at Polaris Career Center. Welding instructor Julio Martinez is at far left. Students Ezekial Warrick and Dylan Shepard kneel in front.
Americans now wear red paper poppies, created by veterans and sold by veterans organizations, to remember those lost in combat. Working with welding instructor Julio Martinez, two students -- Ezekial Warrick of Berea-Midpark High School and Dylan Shepard of Strongsville High School -- created 100 metal poppies on long stakes that can be placed in the ground. The students fashioned the pieces, welded them together and painted them.
The red paint was donated by Sherwin-Williams. The new poppies were displayed along with the original 107 at the post’s Poppy Garden from May 24 -- National Poppy Day -- through Memorial Day, May 27. They will be stored by the Auxi.
