The “Flower of Remembrance”
By Sandy Hanna
On Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 Ladies VFW Auxiliary from Darwin Merritt Post 2265 distributed Buddy Poppies at different places here in Red Oak. What a better way to help our veterans in the community than by distributing this little flower of remembrance. We encourage everyone and get a Buddy Poppy to help honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Since 1922, the Buddy Poppy has been an integral part of the VFW community. As VFW’s official memorial flower, the Poppy represents the blood shed by American service members, it reiterates that VFW will not forget their sacrifices.
The Poppy movement was inspired by Canadian Army Co. John McCrae’s famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.” Poppies were originated distributed by the Franco-American Children’s League to benefit children in the devastated areas of France and Belgium following WWI.
In 1922, VFW conducted a campaign and got Poppies from France. Members soon discovered it took too long to get the flowers in from France and they came up with a better idea. In 1924, VFW was granted the trademark on Buddy Poppies and has owned the rights ever since. Disabled, hospitalized and aging veterans could make the paper flowers and ship them out to the members for distribution.
American presidents have had poppies pinned to their jackets by girls from the National Home. During the 1940s and 1950s, leading Hollywood actresses became “Buddy Poppy Girls,” volunteered her time to help Buddy Poppy distribution in 1950.
VFW pays the disabled veteran for the work. Furthermore Poppy assemble is often used as a therapy program to provide exercise for fingers and hands crippled by wounds, disease and the effects of old age.
Another reason Poppies are so important is because all proceeds from distribution are used for veterans welfare or for the well being of their dependents and the orphans of veterans.
Visitors today can still find poppies waving gently in soft breezes among the crosses row on row in Flanders’ peaceful fields of Belgium.