Malia Riggs – Elmore Autauga News
Photos by Malia Riggs and contributed by Julianne Hansen
Memorial Day is a time of remembrance for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It is a time of remembrance for the brave men and women who have fought for their country. A poppy flower is the symbol of remembrance, to memorialize those in uniform who have fought and left this world and those who have lived and sacrificed in ways unimaginable
To Julianne Hansen, owner of Hansen Fine Art and Pottery in Prattville, and the mastermind behind the Alabama Poppy Project, the holiday is her way to honor and show respect. Not only to ones close to her that have given the ultimate sacrifice, but for the people in our community who have served or are connected to ones who have.
“Poppies represent personal sacrifice and in many cases the sacrifice of their lives. I am really protective of these men and women who have served and given so much. We have no idea what these people have suffered through and what they have sacrificed so it’s our job and our responsibility to honor them,” Hansen said.
The poppy was named the official flower of Memorial Day by the first American Legion on September 27th, 1920. The symbol of remembrance is from a poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He wrote, “In Flanders Fields” a war poem in the form of a rondeau that was written during World War One in 1915, in remembrance of his fellow soldier and friend.
“We just need to stop thinking in such confined ways in order to be able to honor people. We need to honor them in a respectful, reverent kind of way. The whole reason why we did this was to be able to show honor and respect and not be in a cemetery, because that can be triggering for some as it was for me. Also, who can be sad in a poppy field?” Hansen said with a smile.
Hansen’s stepson served in the Air Force as a C-17 pilot and passed away suddenly in 2017. Every year since Hansen has celebrated the Poppy Project, where over 2,000 ceramic poppies are displayed as an art installation at Spillway Park in Prattville. This year the installation will be up until May 30th and with a new added installation this year.
This year Hansen has also added an American flag made of dog tags. These tags have names written on them from people in the community who write down the names of friends and family members in uniform that have passed. There are also current and former living men and women who have served. The thought behind it was the names and tags could flutter in the wind, signifying freedom and sacrifice.
This new piece to the annual Poppy Project will have over five thousand tags. There are over 1,500 tags on the flag now, with 600 more added for Armed Forces Day last Saturday, May 18th.
“It’s neat to see that most of these dog tags have branches of service. This is somebody’s husband, son, brother, daughter, nephew, aunt, sister. Those are people who have sacrificed in some way for the cause of freedom which is what the American flag is supposed to represent,” Hansen said.
Hansen went on to thank her sponsors stating that she is just blown away by the generosity and the kindness of so many.
“God gave me the idea to do this, so we give it all right back to him. He is the reason why we’re able to make all this work,” Hansen said.
Head down to historic downtown Prattville to Heritage Park this Memorial Day and see this amazing creation for yourself. The exhibit is open from dawn until dusk but can be viewed at night. Please be respectful, and do not cross the barriers, or take any property that is not yours.
