Since 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars has been observing and promoting Buddy Poppy Month.
The observance started in France, a country devastated by World War I. he red poppy growing in Flanders Fields memorialized the deaths of American and Allied soldiers. Madame Anna E Guérin, founder of the American and French Children’s League, spoke at servicemen’s organizations and always requested the same thing: Please, whenever possible, wear a silk red poppy flower to honor the fallen.
She came to America in 1919 and turned to the VFW in May, 1922 to bring that dream here.
In August, 1922 the poppy was adopted as the official VFW memorial flower and the nationwide distribution of the flowers started.
Because the need was so great, the following year, the VFW stated a business using disabled and needy American veterans to make the poppies. Because they remembered their fallen comrades who never returned, those veterans started calling them, “Buddy Poppy” and the name stuck.
The trademark was registered at the U.S. Patent Office in 1924 giving the assurance that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are the work of bona fide disabled and in-need veterans. They are assembled in 11 locations throughout the United States.
Funds from the sale go to the VFW National Home and other veteran programs for the well being of our servicemen and servicewomen of all branches. Funds are also used for their dependents, widows and orphans of deceased veterans
The Henryetta VFW members will be going around town selling placards with the poppies to businesses and organizations to place on their counters and be presented to customers.
VFW Post 539 commander Otis Seamon started the program off this week with a special proclamation signed by Henryetta mayor Jennifer Munholland.
“This is a worthy endeavor and all of us at the VFW Post are proud to continue the program,” he said Friday.
