FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
Alabama Poppy Project Comes to Blount County Nov. 7-11
Honoring Alabama’s Heroes with a Moving Tribute of 500 Poppies
Decatur, Ala. (November 6, 2025) - The Alabama Poppy Project will be on display in the front lawn of the Blount County Multi-Purpose Center in Cleveland, Ala. from November 7 to November 11, 2025. This powerful public art installation honors Alabama’s fallen heroes, featuring more than 500 handcrafted poppies representing lives lost in service to our country.
Open daily from dawn to dusk, visitors are invited to walk among the display, reflect, and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served. The Alabama Poppy Project, founded by Alabama Potter Julianne Hansen, has traveled across the state to raise awareness of veterans’ sacrifices and to inspire community remembrance leading up to Veterans Day. The free outdoor art exhibit is open to the public. Pets and smoking are not allowed in the exhibit area.
The poppies were created and “planted” by Hansen and her husband, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steven Hansen in honor of those who have served our country during their lifetime but are now no longer living.
Around the world, the poppy flower symbolizes the blood spilled in an effort to preserve freedoms and those who have died while in the service of a country they love. “The Alabama Poppy Project is a program inspired by the many individuals who have given so much of their lives to the service of their country,” stated Mrs. Hansen, founder of the event. “For me, the event is a way to combine art, healing, honoring and remembering.” In addition to honoring the fallen, the Hansens want to honor Lt. Col. John McCrae who wrote the iconic poem, “In Flanders Fields.” It’s because of this poem written in 1915 that the poppy is used as a symbol of remembrance.
To make each poppy involves over 40 steps from start to finish. Each poppy is cut from slabs of rolled stoneware clay, then formed into a flower shape. Just like in nature, no two flowers are identical. Once the poppies are formed, they are left to dry, then be passed off to her husband, Lt. Col. Hansen who handles the two kiln firings and glazing that each poppy has to go through prior to completion. A white satin ribbon is attached to each poppy displaying the name and branch of the individual to whom the flower is dedicated.
The idea first came to Mrs. Hansen in 2020 as she began to search for a way to honor those members of the military who are no longer among the living, who made their mark while serving in the armed forces during their lifetimes. "My stepsons, daughter, two sons-in-law, my father, my father-in-law, my uncle and so many more individuals who aren't even related to me, have committed a part of their lives to the service of our country, but are no longer living. I wanted to honor them and the sacrifices they made so we can live as we do today," said Mrs. Hansen. She had no idea if the art exhibit would even happen in 2020 given the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic basically shut everything down. “There were no Memorial Day events, all had been canceled,” she recalled. “I was going to do this no matter what.” She believed the visual impact of over 1,000 poppies would be a sobering reminder of the millions of individuals who have honorably served their country at some point in their lives – and it was.
The first poppy was placed in honor of Lt. Col. Hansen’s son, Captain Kyle Steven Hansen, USAF C-17 pilot, who passed away February 8, 2017. “As people began dedicating poppies to their special person, we heard story after story, told by family members, friends and brothers in arms. So many people spoke of very special individuals who made such an impact on so many lives. We laughed, we cried and prayed with those who mourned and remembered these great individuals,” added Mrs. Hansen. Since then, the exhibit has grown to over 2,000 poppies and now portions of the exhibit can be seen in displays around Alabama, such as this one in Cleveland this weekend.
Individuals, families, organizations and corporations can participate by sponsoring a poppy in the name of a loved one or friend for the price of $50 each. Each sponsor is given the opportunity to select a poppy from the “field” and take it home with them along with a rod and personalized ribbon for their special honoree’s name and branch of service. In addition to the poppy, sponsors have a page on https://alabamapoppyproject.com dedicated to their honoree. “That is their page,” Mrs. Hansen said. “Their photo and biography are there to continue their legacy and for others to read and remember.” The names of those honored in each year remain on the website, along with their biography pages and photos. “I feel it’s our duty to keep these legacies alive. These pages online help us to do just that,” she added.
For more information or to sponsor a poppy, please visit https://www.alabamapoppyproject.com/ or call (334) 301-0336.
The display of 500 poppies is presented in conjunction with the second annual North Alabama Patriot Trail Veterans Celebration, set for Monday, November 10, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Blount County Multi-Purpose Center (Blount County Multi-Purpose Center, 6700 County Hwy 1, Cleveland, Ala. 35049). The two-hour program will include a self-serve light breakfast, patriotic music, a video presentation, and special recognitions honoring Alabama veterans. Keynote speakers are Secretary Greg Reed, chairman of the Alabama Veterans Resource Center Board, and Mrs. Hansen.
“The Alabama Poppy Project is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the men and women who have given so much in service to our country,” said Tami Reist, President/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. “It’s a visual reminder of the deep gratitude we all share for our veterans, and we’re proud to help bring this moving display to Blount County as part of our annual Veterans Celebration.”
To RSVP for the North Alabama Patriot Trail Veterans Celebration, call 256.506.1814.
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About the North Alabama Patriot Trail
Released in 2024, the North Alabama Patriot Trail offers a self-guided tour of 79 patriotic stops in the 16 northernmost counties of Alabama. The accompanying brochure is a 12-page handy guide to memorial parks, museums, memorials, markers, archives, noteworthy locations, festivals, specials events and parades to visit in the 16 northernmost counties of North Alabama (Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties). The listings contain a description, address, phone number and website so travelers can easily plan a visit. The North Alabama Patriot Trail joins AMLA’s 10 existing trails and is part of the organization’s overall initiative to attract visitors while honoring those who have served or are currently serving in our country’s Armed Forces. For more information, visit www.northalabama.org/places-to-visit/trails/patriot-trail/.
About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
