Every year on Memorial Day, students in Lexington come together for the Never-Fading Poppy Project’s (NFPP) Memorial Day Showcase, a tradition that blends art and remembrance.
“This is the third year of the Memorial Day Showcase,” Olivia Bao, a junior at Lexington High School and co-president of NFPP, said. “It has two main parts: the paper poppy display and a poetry contest.”
The NFPP team spends over 30 hours in the span of several weeks hand-making about 2,000 paper poppies, arranging them before Memorial Day as a tribute to veterans. The poetry contest, supported by LHS’s English department, gives students a chance to share their reflections on the sacrifices of military personnel. The winning students get to read their poems at the official Lexington Memorial Day ceremony.
The project has expanded outside of Lexington, with branches in neighboring towns Bedford, Andover, and Concord, as well as in four other states. They are currently undergoing an expansion to Canada.
“While each branch manages its own events, we often collaborate, especially for key celebrations,” Lily Xia, a freshman at LHS and co-president of NFPP, said.
In addition to preparing for celebrations, NFPP members have showcased their gratitude by visiting the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center to deliver cards and spend time with veterans, something that has been especially appreciated since the pandemic.
“After COVID, student volunteers were rare, so having us there, especially in person, meant a lot to them,” Bao said.
Organizing the showcase presents its fair share of challenges.
“For the poetry contest, working with [Jane] Day, the head of the English department, to narrow it down to just two poems was tough—so many strong submissions!” Bao said.
The weather caused additional complications for the club.
“Last year’s display was ruined by rain, so we had to make all 2,000 poppies from scratch between April and May,” Bao said.
The poppy remains a central symbol to the project’s mission.
“They represent the sacrifices made by veterans and have become a universal symbol for honoring military service,” Xia said.
Looking ahead, the group is focused on expanding its reach, ensuring that the tradition of remembrance continues to grow, one poppy at a time.
