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Nothing symbolizes the VFW's pledge to "Honor the Dead by Helping the Living" like the Buddy Poppy. Millions of these blood-red artificial flowers are made in this country each year by disabled veterans--disabled on the same battlefields on which their buddies were killed.
Many veterans will spend the rest of their lives bedridden in Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals. Others have adjusted to the challenges of the civilian world--regaining their health and earning power diminished by service-related disabilities.
More than 80 years ago the poppy first gained fame as a symbol of hope amid the carnage of war. In 1915, a World War I Canadian veteran, Colonel John McCrae, wrote a poem entitled "In Flanders Fields." It presented a striking image of the bright red flowers booming among rows or white crosses marking the graves of the war dead in Belgium.
Colonel John McCrae (VFW Magazine) "In Flanders Fields"
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 lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
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 Flanders fields.
Colonel McCrae, who died of pneumonia and meningitis in a British officers hospital in 1918, wrote that soldiers must carry on the fight against the enemy after their comrades had fallen in battle. In a figurative sense, most readers recognized a plea for succeeding generations to build upon the sacrifices made by the courageous veterans. He believed the ideals and causes for which these men were fighting and dying must always be remembered.
Colonel McCrae wrote, "If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep."
The poem had a profound impact on a woman personally affected by the Great War (WWI). Anna E. Guerin, the "Poppy Lady" from France," conceived the idea to sell artificial poppies to help orphans and others left destitute in war-ravaged France.
By the time of this first sale in 1920, the poppy was well-known in the Allied countries (United States, Great Britian, Canada, France, Australia, and New Zealand) as the "Flower of Remembrance" celebrated in Colonel McCrea's poem.
The VFW's first poppy distribution was in May of 1922. French made poppies were purchased through Guerin's organization and profits contributed to helping French Citizens.
At the VFW's National Encampment in 1922, the VFW adopted the poppy as the official VFW flower.
In 1923, at the VFW National Encampment, a plan was formulated to have disabled veterans make the poppies themselves, and in February 1924 the VFW registered the name "Buddy Poppy" with the U.S. Patent Office. The term "Buddy" was coined by the poppy makers themselves as a tribute to the veterans who didn't come home and thos crippled or scarred for life. Since that time the Buddy Poppies have been constructed in VA medical facilities and veterans homes throughout the nation.
Buddy Poppy Sale in the 1920's (VFW Magazine)
Section 704 of the VFW's Official Bylaws requires that the "net proceeds of all sales of the Buddy Poppy" be credited to a Post's Relief Fund. It also stipulates this money may only be used for five purposes.
assistance to needy or disabled veterans, and their dependents, widows, or orphans;
maintenance of the National Home or other facilities that care for veterans, widows, orphans or dependents;
entertainment, care and assistance for hospitalized veterans;
veterans rehabilitation, welfare and service work; and
to perpetuate the memory of deceased veterans (monuments and memorials).
For the Buddy Poppy's 75th anniversary a special label will adorn every flower. Since 1922, this label has been a guarantee from the VFW that each Buddy Poppy is assembled by a disabled or need veteran. It also guarantees that all proceeds will benefit veterans--through Posts' or Departments' service funds-- or their widows and orphans at the National Home or other Veterans Homes.
This couldn't happen without hardworking legions of VFW volunteers. The Post and Auxiliary members who distribute the poppies, the Post Quartermasters who place the orders for the poppies, and the Post Commanders who organizes the distribution programs. We do it because we know we are perpetuating the memories of thousands of selfless military service members who died so all United States citizens could live free. All volunteers also know that the disabled veterans who assembles the poppies is paid for his services, and they know this assistance is the final element in fulfilling the VFW Pledge:
Honor the Dead by Helping the Living
1 June 1997 will mark the 75th year of the Buddy Poppy. If you are a VFW member, please volunteer your time and services for this worth while cause. If you are not a veteran, please honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free by purchasing a Buddy Poppy when given the opportunity to do so.
Information on the Buddy Poppy and COL McCrae was taken from the May 1997 issue of VFW Magazine, some information was obtained from the National VFW World Wide Web Site at "http://www.vfw.org". The "BUDDY POPPY" is registered with the U.S. Patent Office.
