Giving Back To Veterans

Members of the Veterans Of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3017 and Auxiliary stood at the Post Office intersection and the D&G intersection on Nov. 10 for VFW Buddy Poppy Day. This program, part of the Auxiliary Veterans and Family Support and VFW's Veteran and Military Support programs, improves the lives of veterans and their families in many ways.

With the tagline, "They had our backs, now let's have theirs," VFW Buddy Poppy day is about supporting local veterans. According to VFW Post 3017 member Douglas Peterson, a total of $4,172.50 was raised during the event. All proceeds will be used in local VFW programs.

Before Memorial Day in 1922, the VFW conducted the first poppy distribution, 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, as it remains today.

During the 1923 encampment, it was decided that VFW "Buddy" Poppies would be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who would be paid for their work to provide them with financial assistance. 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 name Buddy Poppy was registered with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting the organization all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name Buddy Poppy.