Fourth-grade Franklin Elementary school student Gabriella Brown was named Miss Poppy for the 2016-17 poppy fundraising season Tuesday afternoon at the Lehighton Legion Post No. 314. Brown, daughter of Keri and Floyd Brown of Lehighton, is a junior auxiliary member of the post.

"Her sister did it four years ago so she's been eyeing this up," said her mother, Keri.Brown fulfilled her first responsibilities of the title by presenting the borough's Mayor, Tom Mase, with the first poppy of the season."It's tradition," said Poppy Chairwoman LaRue Fritz of the Shoemaker-Haydt American Legion Auxiliary."It helps people be aware who we are," she said. "Then they are more apt to give donations when they know who you are out in public."Fritz pinned the sash on the gymnastic, cheering, track and field participant before taking the new Miss to help collect donations in the dining room."The poppies are made by disabled vets in veterans' hospitals. The poppies help gather donations for the them," said Fritz.Brown will be present at the Carbon Mall collecting donations for veterans the first weekends in April and May.Brown will join Fritz in the traditional Memorial Day services and parade, along with the November Veterans Day Parade.