Isabella Robinson earns American Legion Auxiliary Little Miss Poppy Award

American Legion Auxiliary member Maureen Murray, left, presents Unit 17's Junior Member Isabella Robinson the Delaware Department Little Miss Poppy Award for her dedicated service throughout the year.

Some 7 million memorial poppies are distributed each year by American Legion Auxiliary members across the country to provide a therapeutic activity for veterans, raise awareness and raise funds to help veterans, military service members and their families. The red crepe paper poppies symbolize the sacrifices made by U.S. military service members.

Approximately $2 million are donated by people receiving the poppies each year. Up until recently, 100 percent of the donated funds was used to help veterans. Due to the great needs of today's military families, the American Legion recently voted to expand the use of newly collected funds to active-duty service members and their families who demonstrate a financial or medical need. Most of the funds stay in the communities where they were collected. Veterans who make the poppies are paid a small stipend for their efforts.

Isabella, a fifth-grade student at Milton Elementary School in Milton, will be representing the Department of Delaware.