OXFORD – The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit 376 sponsored a Poppy Poster Contest in both the Oxford Academy Middle and High Schools. The event was chaired by Terrill Sutton with assistance by Art Educators, Charity Gipp and Joni Eaton. Six students were poster winners.

The ALA's Poppy Poster Contest was started in 2018 by Terrill Sutton, Unit 376’s President and Poppy Chairman. 

"The purpose of doing this," Terrill explained, "is to have the students learn what the Red Flanders Field Poppy represented originally and what it still stands for today." 

In 2018, Terrill asked Art Educators Charity Gipp, Middle School and Joni Eaton, High School, to have their students learn the meaning of the red Memorial Poppy and read the poem "In Flanders Field". Terrill then asked the instructors to have their art students create posters, in any medium, for a competition. The art educators have participated every year since. 

The criteria for the local poster contest is only that it is 11" x 14" in paper size, and that a red Flanders Field poppy is depicted. Other than that, students may add anything else they would like, such as the American Flag, silhouettes of soldiers, or crosses. Each poster should have a fitting slogan such as "We Will Not Forget" or (a line from) the Flanders Field Poem. (The Unit's contest regulations are slightly different than the National ALA contest.) 

The artwork was delivered to the Fort Hill Post 376 where it was judged by the American Legion Auxiliary officers. The winning poster display will remain for a month for all to appreciate, and they can be viewed during the Sunday Community Breakfasts. 

Winning Poppy Poster students are awarded gift cards to their choice of restaurants, from Hoppie's, Joe & Vinny's, The Stadium or Roma's.

Winners of the Poppy Poster Contest from the Middle School are in First Place: Desirae Spicer, Second Place: Cali Kappauf and Third Place: Makenzie Olinski. Honorable Mention: Lily Lamphere.
Winners from the High School are in First Place: Lily Karn, Second Place: Ashley Vargas, and Third Place: Mia Battista. 



To read more about the ALA or to see the poppy posters online, visit the "Poster Contest" webpage at: http://oxford-ala.chenango.org/ and click on the 2025 year. The Oxford Fort Hill Legion is located at 17 S Washington Avenue. For info contact the Legion at (607-843-8166 or email events@oxfordny.com.