On Tuesday, October 12 Bella-Kate Caudle, American Legion Paul Gwin Unit 47 “Miss Poppy” 2022 visited the Sheriff’s Office. Bella-Kate, age 9, was selected this year’s Miss Poppy by the American Legion and will compete with other Legion unit participants in Georgia as part of her duties. Bella-Kate lives here in Calhoun and attends Calhoun Elementary School. She was given a tour of the facility by Sheriff Mitch Ralston which featured many items of local history. Bella-Kate gave American Legion poppies to staff members to be worn in honor of American war dead, especially during the Veterans Day season.

Poppies became the emblem of honored war dead over 100 years ago in the aftermath of World War I, wherein countless soldiers died on the fields of poppies in northern France and Belgium, immortalized by Lieutenant-Colonel John McRae in the poem. “In Flanders Fields” which contains the line, “in Flanders fields where poppies grow”.

“Miss Poppy” Bella-Kate Caudle presenting Sheriff Mitch Ralston with an American Legion Auxiliary certificate of appreciation.