Laurel third grader wins NW National Poppy Poster Contest

A celebration was in order last week when the Laurel American Legion Auxiliary presented third grader Raelynn Stocklin with a check and trophy in the Poppy Contest.

Raelynn not only won at the state level, but she also won the Northwest National Division. Her parents Jessica and Clay Stocklin came to celebrate with Raelynn when she received her awards during an assembly at Laurel Intermediate School. Raelynn is the second Laurel winner announced this fall in the Poppy Comntest.

Clay Stocklin said Raelynn’s biggest moment was celebrating her national art award with her peers at school.

“She loves to draw and color. She is very artistically gifted,” Clay said.

Raelynn took the Poppy Contest very seriously, working on a first draft of her finished poster in school. She then took it home and made the decision to make individual tissue paper poppies to make the poster 3-dimensional. The bright red poppies really stand out.

Her winnings include a state trophy and check for $25, another $25 check from being a local winner, and a certificate and $50 check for winning at the national level. Another $50 check will be donated to a Spirit of Youth scholarship in Raelynn’s name.

Clay said as much as Raelynn loves to draw and write, filling notebooks and journals with her work, she aspires to be a veteranarian.

“She loves animals,” Clay said.

Representatives from the American Legion Auxiliary said winning at the national level is huge for Laurel. Each spring students make poppy posters that are dispayed in the windows of local businesses. The posters help remind people about the importance of honoring veterans on Memorial Day. Paper poppies are sold before Memorial Day weekend, and the money raised supports military personnel and veterans.

The American Legion Auxiliary was founded in 1919 to support veterans, military personnel, and their families. Operating under the motto “Service Not Self,” the organization is a partner organization to the American Legion.

Raelynn’s poppy poster is highlighted online at the American Legion Auxiliary website at https://www.legion-aux.org/national-poppy-poster-contest. Her family will add the poster to her growing art collection at home.

“We’ve got to make room on the fridge for more artwork,” Clay said.

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