The 2019 poppy campaign in Lehighton kicked off on Monday. Lehighton Chief of Police Brian Biechy made a donation and received the first poppy from Miss Poppy 2019-20 Delaney Berger.

The poppy has been distributed by Legion Auxiliary posts nationwide since 1924. It is a symbol of the blood shed by soldiers during war and was made popular by the poem “In Flanders Field,” by Lt. Col. John McCrae.

Legion Auxiliary posts distribute the poppy and request a donation to support veterans as well as active duty military and families with medical and financial assistance.

Delaney is the daughter of Clayton Berger and stepmother Jennifer Cordery. She is in third grade at the Lehighton Elementary School and enjoys playing soccer. Delaney is a junior member of Shoemaker-Haydt American Legion Auxiliary Unit 314.

Debora DeCindio is the president of Unit 314. LaRue Fritz is the first vice president of Unit 314, 21-year poppy chairman of Unit 314, and is the poppy chairman of the four county council including Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh, and Northampton counties.

Shoemaker-Haydt Auxiliary Unit 314 will be distributing poppies at the Carbon Plaza Mall in Mahoning Township on April 5 and 6, May 3 and 4, and May 24.