ALA Unit 376 Poppy Poster Contest

Unit 376 Poppy Program Chairman: Terrill Sutton

Fort Hill American Legion Auxiliary member, Terrill Sutton (Oxford, NY), is the Unit 376 Poppy Program Chairman. She was eligible for ALA membership through her late mother, Emily E. Brashaw, a 20-year US Navy firefighter. As Poppy Chairman, Terrill is in charge of distributing the red crepe paper Memorial Poppies for donations, choosing a Poppy Princess for the Memorial Day parade, and organizing the annual Unit 376 Poppy Poster Contest - with assistance by the Oxford Academy Art Department. Unit 376 sponsored it's first Poppy Poster Contest in May 2018.

The ALA Unit 376's Poppy Poster Contest takes place in May and is open to art students in both the Oxford Academy Middle and High Schools. Nine student's posters are usually chosen (*three place winners in 3 categories) as winners.

Click to see winning posters - Poppy Posters 2018 - Poppy Posters 2019 -* Poppy Posters 2021 - Poppy Posters 2022 - Poppy Posters 2023
*No contest in 2020 due to the Pandemic.

Some of the winners of the ALA Unit 376 Poppy Poster Contest

ALA Unit 376 Poppy Chair Terrill Sutton with 2019 Poppy Posters winners: Matthew Cole, Ashley Rhodes, Aubry Simpson and Lexi Kohlhepp. Photo by Jeanie Petersen

2021 ALA Poppy Poster Contest winners from Oxford Academy Middle School (L to R) Teagan Franklin and Deana Ferreira. (Not pictured, Emerson La Monica.) Photo by Terrill Sutton	ALA Poppy Chair Terrill Sutton (far left) with 2021 Poppy Poster contest winners from the High School: (L to R) John Rovente, Jocie Finch, Sara Johnson, Elizabeth Knapp, Liberty Moshier, Jillian Finch, and (far right) Ayla Grems. Art Educator Joni Eaton 2nd from right (rear row). Photo by Melissa Gross

Since World War I, the American Legion Auxiliary has been distributing the red Memorial Poppy to remind Americans that millions sacrificed their lives and health to keep America free. This poster contest theme should express what the poppy represents, in any art medium. The goal is to encourage the students to research and learn about the meaning of the poppy, patriotism, veterans and service, through art.

Local Poppy Poster Contest Requirements:
1. Paper size: 11" x 14"
2. A red Flanders Field poppy is depicted.
3. Each poster shall have a fitting slogan not to exceed ten words such as "We Will Not Forget" or (a line from) the Flanders Field Poem. (Articles “a”, “and,” “an”,“the” are not to be counted as words.) The words “buddy” and “buy” cannot be used.
Other than that, students may add anything else they would like, such as the American Flag, silhouettes of soldiers, or crosses. (The National ALA contest has a few more rules and an earlier deadline. Any student interested in having their artwork entered in the National ALA competition should contact the Unit 376 Poppy Chairman.)

The Unit 376 ALA Poppy Poster contest is for grades five through twelve in three levels: Middle School (lower grades) Class 1; Middle School (higher grades) Class 2, and High School. There usually is a first, second, and third place in each grade category.

Prizes are gift certificates to Oxford restaurants: Hoppie's, The Stadium, and Joe and Vinny's (- student's restaurant choice). First place - $25 gift certificates, second $15, and third - $10 gift certificates.

The winning posters are displayed in the dining hall at the American Legion Post 376 (17 S Washington Ave, Oxford, NY) for month long viewing during the Sunday Community Breakfasts.