Veterans Day is November 11th, so this year, social studies teacher Heather Loeschke decided to have her 9th grade Civics classes and her 12th grade AP Government class participate in a Buddy Poppy poster drawing contest for the American Legion Auxillary. The slogan of the contest was  “Honor The Dead by Helping The Living.” Posters must use a “Buddy Poppy” provided by Mrs. Loeschke — the symbol of the Legion Auxillary. Posters were judged by the Cannon Falls Legion Auxillary members. Awards were given to the top three posters: 1st place recieved $75, 2nd place got $50, and 3rd place recieved $25. The 1st place poster will represent the Cannon Falls VFW Auxiliary at the VFW Auxiliary Fall Conference in Rochester, MN. 

Mrs. Loeschke presented the idea of the Buddy Poppy Poster contest to the Cannon Falls VFW Auxiliary. Mrs. Loeschke is a member of this group. The organization needed to create a Buddy Poppy poster for the upcoming Falls Conference at the end of September. She had asked if it would be all okay to create a contest and have students make the posters. The Auxiliary thought it was a great idea, and the contest was born. Mrs. Loeschke wanted her students to do the project because she thought it would be a great civics experience. Additionally, veterans are very important to Mrs. Loeschke, so she wanted to emphasize their importance in her class. Mrs. Loeschke was hoping to provide some sense of civic pride and engagement for her students. “I think the Buddy Poppy Contest is a really fun activity that we get to participate in and I had a lot of fun making the poster,” said a 9th grader from Mrs. Loeschke’s class.

The students enjoyed being creative and demonstrating their skills in something other than a written assignment or test. “I think it’s fun. I also think it’s a good idea, and I’m happy we got to participate in it. I had tons of fun making my poster,” commented a 9th grader from Mrs. Loeschke’s class. Students were allowed to do whatever design they wanted and use whatever materials they wanted. AP Government student Grace Miller enjoyed the creative liberty: “I’ve really enjoyed working with the little poppies and gluing or sticking them into my poster. It’s also been super fun to see the other ideas some of my classmates have come up with.” Overall, the project was a hit. “I thought it was really fun and exciting,” commented another 9th grader from Mrs. Loeschke’s class. 

Mrs. Loeschke thought that this kind of assignment would give students another opportunity to show what they could do. It’s an activity that a student really can’t get wrong — just be creative, demonstrate an appreciation for Veterans Day, and use a poppy.