Blue Ridge Mayor Rhonda Haight proclaimed May 23 as National Poppy Day to honor American soldiers who died in war.
Since World War I, the poppy has been a symbol of soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to protect their countries.
Haight has a personal connection to this day because her uncle died in the Vietnam War.
“My dad had a really hard time grasping [it],” she said of her uncle’s death.
While Veterans’ Day honors living veterans, Memorial Day honors American veterans who have died while in service.
In 2017, Congress recognized the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day.
“It’s not just about barbecues and so on,” American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) president Leslie Callender said of the weekend. “We can never forget [veterans.]”
The ALA helps support American Legion veterans.
“It’s very humbling when the veterans recognize and see their fallen comrades,” Callender said.
She suggested that families commemorate Memorial Day by explaining what veterans have sacrificed to their children.
“There’s an age-appropriate way to discuss things like war and sacrifice for any age level,” Callender said.
The American Legion offers resources for these discussions, she added.
Haight signed the Poppy Day proclamation on April 16, with American Legion vice presidential nominee Starr Glisson-Smith and Callender in attendance.
“It’s important to show respect and honor for our veterans,” Haight said.
She called for citizens to honor soldiers on May 23 by wearing memorial poppies.
“A nation at peace must be reminded of the price of war and the debt owed to those who have died in war,” the proclamation announced.
Every year, Blue Ridge recognizes Memorial Day with a service at the Fannin County Veterans Memorial Park, Callender said.
Haight said the city plans to decorate the veterans’ memorial with flowers in collaboration with Home Depot.