One of the most important jobs on Memorial Day since the 1920s is that of the Poppy Girl.

Across the country, these young ladies will be placing poppy wreaths on cemeteries this Monday paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the wars of the past and present.

South Whidbey’s Poppy Girl this year is Lakota Clarkson.

Lakota is 10 and is a junior member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Her grandmother, Diane Curtis, is a Post 141 Ladies Auxiliary member as well.

She will be placing the poppy wreath at the Bayview Cemetery during the Memorial Day service on Monday.

Lakota is excited about performing her duty. Wearing a nice dress and getting her picture in the paper are pretty cool, she said, but she knows exactly why she is doing it.

“It’s for the veterans,” she said. “My great grandpa Fred was in the service.”

The auxiliary will be distributing poppies and collecting donations in various South Whidbey locations, including the American Legion Post on Highway 525 just south of Bayview Road. There will be a poppy distribution table with American Legion volunteers this weekend at Casey’s Red Apple at Bayview.

The American Legion Auxiliary memorial poppy is a symbol of the price of war and the sacrifice the Armed Forces have made to preserve freedom. It honors past and current American service members, said Sue Koleada, of the Post 141 Ladies Auxiliary and coordinator of the poppy event.

The poppy also honors the hospitalized and disabled veterans who make these handcrafted flowers. The poppy continues to provide a financial and therapeutic benefit to those veterans who construct them, as well as benefiting other veterans and their families by the revenues collected from poppy distribution.

“Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of our veteran’s programs,” Koleada said.

The Post 141 Ladies Auxiliary is asking every American to wear a poppy on the observance of Memorial Day this Monday, as well as this weekend.

Memorial Day ceremonies

Clinton service

11 a.m. at Clinton Cemetery

The ceremony will be led by Pastor Mikkel Hustad. Keynote speaker this year is Charles Bond, Command Master Chief of the U.S. Navy Electronic Attack Squadron 133.

Bayview service

11 a.m. at Bayview

Cemetery

The American Legion

Post 141 presents its annual Memorial Day remembrance ceremony.