Seventeen-year-old Autumn Maley has already built a resume that rivals many adults — varsity lacrosse player, AP art student, junior firefighter, student government secretary and community volunteer — but this Memorial Day season, the American Legion Auxiliary junior member is taking on another meaningful role as Manhasset’s 2026 Poppy Queen.
Maley, a junior at Manhasset High School, said she was honored to be selected by the auxiliary to represent veterans and military families during this year’s Memorial Day parade and ceremonies.
The tradition dates back decades in Manhasset, where the local auxiliary has crowned a Poppy Queen since the 1970s. During the parade, Maley will ride through town carrying a bouquet of roses presented by the legion before being formally introduced at the post-parade ceremony by auxiliary president.
For Maley, the role carries personal meaning. Her late grandfather served in the Army shortly after the Korean War, an experience she said transformed his life.
“He was an orphan by the time he was 15,” she said. “The Army gave him skills, stability and a future. I joined the auxiliary to honor him and to give back to veterans.”
“My Grandfather’s Army Keepsakes,” a colored pencil piece by 2026 Manhasset Poppy Queen Autumn Maley. The artwork reflects her grandfather’s journey as an orphan who found a new lease on life, structure, and lifelong goals through his service in the U.S. Army.Photo provided by Autumn Maley
Maley joined the auxiliary in eighth grade and now serves as co-president of its junior division. Along with fellow members, she spends Memorial Day season distributing red poppies throughout the community in exchange for donations that support veterans, military families and active-duty troops.
The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance after World War I, inspired by the famous poem “In Flanders Fields” and the flowers that bloomed across war-torn battlefields in Europe.
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This year residents can find Maley and other auxiliary members distributing poppies at locations including King Kullen, the Manhasset post office and Manhasset Bagels during Memorial Day weekend. Members are also collecting donations at Raindew and after masses at St. Mary’s Church.
Maley said her volunteer work has deepened her understanding of the struggles many veterans face after returning home, particularly with mental health, food insecurity and readjustment to civilian life.
Recently, she spearheaded a community cooking fundraiser that raised more than $1,000 for the Nassau County veterans food pantry.
Her mother, Donna Lee, said watching her daughter embrace service work so passionately has been deeply meaningful.
“I’m so grateful that Autumn found a cause she truly believes in,” Lee said. “She connects her passion with her artistic creativity to bring joy to veterans, whether she is making holiday cards or creating personal videos for veterans in hospice care. She realizes how meaningful it is to make them feel appreciated.”
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 304 President Pat O’Brien said Maley’s selection as Poppy Queen was a natural choice. “Autumn has a very sincere commitment to those who served and continue to serve our country. This isn’t just another service project to her,” O’Brien said. “She brings so much energy and a smile to our meetings.”
For O’Brien, passing these values to the next generation is the ultimate goal of the auxiliary, especially as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
“Teaching children about the meaning of Memorial Day, the price of freedom, and the sacrifices made by our veterans is a way to help them understand that freedom is not free,” O’Brien said.
“Those who serve always say that they will leave no one behind,” O’Brien added. “We must continue to say that no one who sacrificed their lives for our country shall ever be forgotten. That can only be done by teaching our youth to remember and be grateful.”
Beyond veterans causes, Maley also hopes to continue advocating for women affected by human trafficking, an issue she became passionate about after visiting a shelter in Italy that supports survivors.
“I want to keep helping people and raising awareness,” she said. “That’s something I hope to continue for the rest of my life.”