Inspired by Col. John McCrae's" In Flanders Fields ", a poem about those who fought and died in France during World War I, the poppy is distributed by veterans organizations around the world as a memorial flower.

Since 1922, the artificial Buddy Poppy has been dispensed by the VFW as a means of raising funds to help needy and disabled veterans, dependents of veterans, widows and orphans of deceased veterans.

For our small Camp Humphreys Post 10223, the Buddy Poppy event, occurring the weekends prior to Memorial Day and Veterans Day, are the best opportunities we have to meet the public and increase local awareness about the VFW organization, its goals and ideals. So, if you see a VFW member on your way to the supermarket, stop to say hello and pickup a Buddy Poppy. By wearing it, you honor the American men and women who served to make our country free, sometimes at the cost of their own life!

Thursday, August 10, 2006 09:46:18 PM