"In Flanders Fields

                                                                            The Poppies Blow…”

These opening words of Col. John McCrae’s immortal poem are known to every child in the United States.  Dedicated to the memory of the men who fought and died in France during World War I, the Poppies of which he wrote have become the true symbol of all those who have given their lives in our nation’s wars.

The Poppy has become recognized as the memorial flower in countries throughout the world.  It is distributed by veterans organizations in Europe, in America, and in most of the countries of the British Commonwealth.

Since 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States has conducted an annual distribution of "Buddy” Poppies to raise funds for its charitable programs on behalf of the needy and disabled veterans, and the widow and orphans of deceased veterans.