A Post in the Great Lakes State distributes hundreds of Buddy Poppies to its community.
Members of a VFW Post in Paw Paw, Michigan, continue to keep the tradition of distributing Buddy Poppies to community members. VFW Auxiliary member Barb Alden said her husband, Jim Alden, commander of Post 2532 in Paw Paw, Michigan, and their grandson, Milo, were at a supermarket in town on May 5 for the Buddy Poppy drive.
VFW Post 2532 Commander Jim Alden and his 5-year-old grandson, Milo, hand out VFW Buddy Poppies on May 5 in Paw Paw, Mich.“It was Milo’s first time giving out Buddy Poppies,” Alden said of the five year old. “When he first started, he was a little shy, but he warmed up to everyone. It was really exciting for him to be there. He loves his Papa Bear, and he is a very hard worker.”
About 1,200 Buddy Poppies were distributed in the community of 4,500 people over a four-day period.
“Overall, people were more generous than in the past,” Alden said.
Since 1922, VFW has conducted Buddy Poppy drives. It began as a tribute to World War I veterans. Today, it honors the sacrifices of veterans who have served in war and raises awareness about the needs of veterans and their families. The tradition of wearing Buddy Poppies dates back to the aftermath of World War I, inspired by the famous poem "In Flanders Fields" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, which reflects on the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers in Flanders, Belgium.
The VFW distributes Buddy Poppies as a way to remember and honor veterans, raise funds to support veterans' welfare programs and educate the public about the importance of supporting those who have served their country.
This article is featured in the 2024 June issue of Checkpoint.