By Sarah Wolff
Tomahawk American Legion Auxiliary member
TOMAHAWK – On Saturday, May 28, a quartet of fashionable young ladies helped the Tomahawk American Legion Post 93 distributed poppies throughout the community for National Poppy Day®.
These four Tomahawk girls serve as Post 93’s Poppy Princesses and are wholly committed to supporting the ongoing wellness of veterans and active-duty military members.
Local young ladies with strong ties to veterans, community
This year’s Poppy Princesses are Adalynn Picl, daughter of Ryan Picl and Chelsea Arnott; Elizabeth Maule, daughter of Emily and Jeremiah Maule; and Faith Turner and Bailey Turner, daughters of Ron Vidas and Dominique Descoeudres.
Picl’s father, Ryan, is a Tomahawk police officer whose grandfather served as a frogman.
The Turner sisters’ parents are proprietors of Mama D’s du Lac Bar and Bistro of Tomahawk and hail from military families.
Three of the four girls may look familiar to Tomahawk residents, since they were Poppy Princesses in 2022 as well.
Royal service that perfectly blends fun, respect, community support
Family members inspired all four princesses to serve.
Picl’s great-grandfather was a veteran, and she is proud to help spread the word about veterans and the need to honor them.
For Faith Turner, the decision to become a Poppy Princess two years in a row was easy.
“My grandpa is a Son of the American Legion,” she said. “My great-grandfather was in the Army and served in Korea. I wanted to do this again this year because last year was fun and I want to help veterans and the community again.”
Bailey Turner shares her sister’s sentiments and was thrilled to be asked to be a 2022 and 2023 Poppy Princess.
Maule is happy to serve as Poppy Princess because she believes it’s a great way to show respect for military personnel and thank veterans and active military people for their service.
Picl says the best part of being a Poppy Princess is the annual picture with her father, which has become a family tradition.
The Turner sisters enjoy being out in the community, riding in Tomahawk’s Fourth of July parade, interacting with community members and representing the American Legion.
Maule appreciates learning more about what service means and the opportunity to honor numerous friends and family members who served or currently serve in multiple branches of the U.S. military; specifically, her paternal grandmother was 34th Auxiliary Artillery Division in the Army, her maternal great-grandfather served in the Korean War and her great-uncle served in the Air Force.
Poppy distribution and so much more
While the Poppy Princesses’ most visible responsibility is handing out poppies during National Poppy Day, they have other important duties, including selling tickets for American Legion raffles (including the fishing raffle and ATV raffle currently underway), picking raffle winners and promoting community goodwill (look for them in the next July 4 parade in downtown Tomahawk).
But most importantly, the role and responsibilities of a Poppy Princess teach giving and graciousness while helping veterans and entire communities.
All four Poppy Princesses agree that serving as Poppy Princesses makes them feel happy and extremely good about helping the Tomahawk community.
Faith Turner appreciates “respecting veterans and active military members,” while her sister Bailey is “proud to represent the American Legion.”
And all four Poppy Princesses encourage local young ladies to spend their time as American Legion royalty.
“Do it,” said Picl.
“It’s a good thing for veterans and the community,” said Faith Turner.
And Bailey Turner couldn’t agree more.
“It’s really fun,” she said. “You get to spread goodness in the community, represent the American Legion and just have fun!”
Nearly a century of supporting the needs of veterans, active-duty military members
Since 1924, The American Legion has distributed poppies in its National Poppy Day program.
Symbolizing the bloodshed in World War I in Europe, the red poppy thrived in rubble-enriched soil throughout France and Belgium, and was the centerpiece of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D.’s famous wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.”
On Sept. 27, 1920, the poppy became the official flower of the American Legion family to memorialize soldiers who fought and died during the war. The American Legion Auxiliary leads annual National Poppy Day efforts to distribute poppies in communities worldwide on the Friday before Memorial Day.
Get involved with the Tomahawk American Legion, National Poppy Day and more
For information about Poppy Princess opportunities, contact Donna Pederson, American Legion Auxiliary President, at 715-360-1497 or [email protected].
Learn more about National Poppy Day and the poppy story at the American Legion website, www.legion.org/.
Support the Tomahawk American Legion by visiting Kilroy’s Klub at 327 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Tomahawk. And remember, veterans and family members of veterans are always welcome to join the Tomahawk American Legion — email [email protected] for details.