Thankful for Buddy Poppies and Work They Provide Veterans

Veterans Day, and the recognition of Veterans, sets the stage for Buddy Poppy Days. It has become an integral part of VFW and American Legion activity, because the poppy represents the blood shed by American service members.

The poppy buddy was inspired by Canadian Col. John McCrae's famous poem, In Flanders Fields. Since 1922, it has been a meaningful part of veterans' organization operations.

Did you know that these poppies have been produced by veterans in Veterans Administration hospitals, state veterans' homes, and other domiciles? The men and women assemble them in bundles of ten and pack them in boxes of 500, 1,000, or 2,000 for shipment to posts across the country.

The organizations pay the disabled vets for the work, and the extra income provides additional income for little luxuries, which make hospital life a little more tolerable.

So after the many Veterans Day programs and the 236th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 10, I spent part of Saturday and Sunday making poppies available to our local citizens. This was therapy in itself, as each donor was able to express their thanks to us for our service in the past and Poppy Day in the present.

We live in a wonderful place, proven by the reception we get during the activity. BUDDY POPPIES ARE IMPORTANT for all who participate in the memories.

Thanks for those memories for 2011.