Jeanette Garcia
2016-2017 National Veterans & Family Support Ambassador
Veterans & Family Support: “Buddy”® Poppy
As a member of the Auxiliary, you have most likely heard of, seen and accepted donations for the “Buddy”® Poppy Program. This program, part of the Auxiliary Veterans & Family Support and VFW’s Veteran & Military Support Programs, improves the lives of veterans and their families in many ways.
The VFW adopted the poppy as its official memorial flower in 1922, though the roots go back to Belgium during World War I, when Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae penned the poem “In Flanders Field” in honor of a lost friend and comrade.
For more than 90 years, the “Buddy”® Poppy has been assembled by disabled and needy veterans, providing compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies. For each “Buddy”® Poppy sold:
- 5 cents goes to the Department’s Veterans Service Fund.
- 1 cent goes to VFW National Headquarters Veterans Service Fund.
- 1 cent goes to VFW National Home for Children.
The “Buddy”® Poppy does so much good for so many people, yet many people don’t know the history behind this small, yet mighty flower. When talking about the “Buddy”® Poppy or hosting a “Buddy”® Poppy drive, share the following information:
- They are assembled by disabled and needy veterans who are compensated for their work.
- Money raised from donations goes to support veterans’ programs across the nation, including providing financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs.
- Create an eye-catching display crafted from “Buddy”® Poppies. You could even enter the display in your Department’s “Buddy”® Poppy contest!
- Play the “Veterans Behind the “Buddy”® Poppy” video. Hear from those who assemble these small, yet mighty, flowers. You can play this on a smartphone, tablet or laptop wherever an Internet connection is available.
- Make copies of the “Veterans Behind the “Buddy”® Poppy” article featured in the September 2015 issue of VFW Auxiliary Magazine. Have copies available for Post and Auxiliary members to use during their next “Buddy”® Poppy drive.
Want to know more? Learn more about the history of the “Buddy”® Poppy here: https://www.vfw.org/Community/Buddy-Poppy/
