Crossett Mayor Crystal Marshall issued a proclamation on Monday, May 22 declaring it as Poppy Day in the city from this point forward.
The proclamation asks that all citizens of Crossett “pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom by wearing the Memorial Poppy during this month.”
The proclamation also declares, “America is the land of freedom, preserved and protected willingly and freely by citizen soldiers,” and that “millions who have answered the call to arms have died on the field of battle.”
The document continues, “A nation at peace must be reminded of the price of war and the debt owed to those who have died in war.”
It explains, “The red poppy has been designated as the symbol of the sacrifice of the lives in all wars; and…The American Legion Auxiliary has pledged to and will remind all Americans annually of this debt through the distribution of memorial flowers.”
The members of the American Legion Auxiliary will be handing the flowers out at the flag retirement and dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday morning at Timberline Federal Credit Union (TFCU) located at 1101 Main St. in Crossett.
This Military May Celebration is open to the public; afterward TFCU will serve hot dogs, chips and a drink free of charge. The event will take place in memory of John Nowlin with the flag presented to Faith Nowlin.
Auxiliary members will hand poppies out at Cash Saver, located at 1066 AR Hwy 133, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27.
