CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Honor fallen warriors and help all veterans

The Franklin Press - 5/23/2017

As the daughter of a Korean War veteran, the wife of a Grenada-Panama veteran and a veteran myself, I hold a special place in my heart for the parents, siblings, spouses and friends of those who served. I can't help but think of all the men and women who have gone to fight for this great nation and didn't return home.

While we are all guilty of celebrating the unofficial start of summer and encouraging each other to "have a good weekend," it is important to remember the reason for the holiday weekend: Memorial Day is the day Americans set aside to honor those brave men and women who met tragic ends while defending our freedom. It is our duty to honor their sacrifices, to pray for their families and to bow our heads in recognition of their service.

On National Poppy Day, May 26, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 108 will be distributing poppies as a tribute to our fallen warriors. We invite Franklin residents to stop by and see us from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kmart in the Westgate Plaza to receive a poppy in exchange for a donation to wear in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. We must never forget.

The poppy, which bloomed on the battlefields of France after World War I, has grown to become an internationally known and recognized symbol of the lives sacrificed in war and the hope that none died in vain. One hundred percent of donations received will go directly to help veterans here in Franklin. The American Legion Family has called upon Congress to designate the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day.

The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is the world's largest women's patriotic service organization, with nearly three-quarters of a million members and more than 8,000 units in communities across the nation. The ALA serves nearly 1 million veterans every year. Right here in Franklin, we continue to help mitigate the challenges our veterans face and deliver upon our mission by organizing multiple events and fundraisers throughout the year to support veterans, military and their families.

To learn more about the Auxiliary's mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit ALAforVeterans.org.

Debra McGill Macon Unit 108