One poppy display featured a tank, solder, and American Flag on a bed on poppies representing Flander’s Field. It was created by fifth graders at Divine Redeemer School. Three displays were selected as District VFW winners and go on to State competition.
Three displays created by Divine Redeemer students in Ford City won top awards at last Saturday’s District Convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The gathering was held in Indiana, Pennsylvania for VFW District 26 which includes Armstrong, Cambria, and Indiana counties.
The competition commemorates Poppy Day each Spring in the VFW. From its association with poppies flowering in the spring of 1915 on the battlefields of Belgium, France and Gallipoli, this vivid red flower has become synonymous with great loss of life in war.
Ford City VFW Post 4843 took first place in all three categories at the District level and will now go on to State competition to be held in Gettysburg.
Auxiliary Patriotic Instructor Denise Russick, along with the support of Melissa Sheaffer of Divine Redeemer School, said the students assembled these award winning Patriotic displays.
Russick coordinates the program for the local Post.
“We have a competition where all the Posts can represent one display per category. There are three different categories: Promotion, Artistic Creative, and Memorial/Inspirational.”
VFW Post 4843 has participated in the contest over the past five years, and has often placed first in at least one category.
“Some are very elaborate. They have done flags with eagles. Some are spray-painted. They have formed crosses. Some are very small and simple while others are more elaborate.”
In case of a tie during competition, the display with a most number of poppies used becomes the winner.
“The rule is that you have to have at least one poppy that has the tag on it,” she said.
A butterfly created from poppies won first place in District competition in the Artistic category.
This promotional display won VFW District place in its category.