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Buddy
Poppy
Among all
the flowers that evoke the memories and emotions of war is the
red poppy, which became associated with war after the publication
of a poem written by Col. John McCrae of Canada. The poem, "In
Flander's Fields," describes blowing red fields among the
battleground of the fallen.
The VFW was the first veterans' organization to adopt the poppy
and develop a national distribution campaign. For more than 75
years, the VFW's Buddy Poppy program has raised millions of dollars
in support of veterans' welfare and the well being of their dependents.
From the very beginning, Buddy Poppy has received the support
of the Veterans Administration and the endorsement and cooperation
of all presidents since Warren G. Harding.
Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled, needy and
aging veterans in VA Hospitals and domiciliaries across the country
and are distributed by VFW Posts and their Ladies Auxiliaries.
The minimal assessment (cost of Buddy Poppies) to VFW units provides
compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides
financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans'
rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the
VFW National Home for orphans and widows of our nation's veterans.
Source: VFW
National Website
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"In
Flander's Fields" describes a battlefield of crosses dotted
with red poppies. The poem deeply touched the nation and the
world, and, from that point on, poppies became known throughout
the world as a memorial flower, a reminder of the lives lost
in wartime.
"In
Flander's Fields" by John McCrae
In
Flander's fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flander's fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flander's fields.
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Selling replicas
of the original Flanders' poppy originated in some of the allied
countries immediately after the Armistice. In 1921, the Franco-American
Children's League began the first nationwide sale of poppies
to benefit children in the devastated areas of France and Belgium.
Madam Guerin, who was recognized as the "poppy lady"
from France, sought and received the cooperation of the VFW in
1922 after the Franco-American Children's League was dissolved.
The VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial
Day in 1922 becoming the first veterans' organization to organize
a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the
official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States.
It was during the 1923 encampment that the VFW decided that VFW
Buddy Poppies be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who
would be paid for their work to provide them with some form of
financial assistance. The plan was formally adopted during the
VFW's 1923 encampment. The next year, disabled veterans at the
Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh, assembled VFW Buddy Poppies.
The designation "Buddy Poppy" was adopted at that time.
In February 1924, the VFW registered the name "Buddy Poppy"
with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May
20, 1924, granting the VFW all trademark rights in the name of
Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. The VFW
has made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing
that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work
of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm or
individual can legally use the name "Buddy" Poppy.
Source: VFW
National Website
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