During May, Never-Fading Poppy Project (NFPP), created by Lexington High School students, held a poetry showcase and competition to provide an alternate art form for students to express themselves. 

NFPP aims to connect generations through art. NFPP focuses on sending handmade cards made by students to veterans, through which students can receive community service hours.

“We wanted to further engage the community with a poetry contest to encourage people to think outside the realm of visual art and express gratitude through writing,” Lucy Wei, a co-leader of NFPP and junior at LHS, said. 

The showcase was launched through a collaborative effort between NFPP, the Town Celebration Committee, and Jane Day, the head of the LHS English Department.

“The poems that we received back were truly extraordinary,” Candice Lin, a co-leader of NFPP and junior at LHS, said.

Two of the poems will be presented during Lexington’s annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 27. Similar to last year, NFPP will also contribute a poppy wreath memorial, which will be installed at Emery Park.

Lin, Wei, and Jodie Chen, a junior at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School (BB&N), started NFPP in the summer of 2020. The pandemic prompted them to realize the importance of human interaction, especially for veterans.

“At that time and even now, veterans have been completely isolated in hospitals and veteran villages. We thought it would be nice to send in some thank-you cards as a sign that we still think of them and appreciate them. Communication and connection are essential to all human interaction, but unfortunately, there tends to be a lack of communication between different communities, whether that be generations or cultures,” Lin added.

Over the past four years, their passion for the project has translated to broadening NFPP’s scope. Beyond Massachusetts, they have also expanded the project to reach local veterans in North Carolina and California.

“Since that summer, over 600 participants spanning the U.S. have sent cards to veterans through our project,” Lin said.

Project leaders considered the competition successful at fulfilling its purpose: to provide aspiring poets the opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation for veterans. 

“At the end of the day, being able to organize and share some of the students’ poetic art is a success,” Corey Zhao, a co-leader and junior at LHS, said.