Buddy Poppy In Flanders Fields

History

Before Memorial Day in 1922, the VFW conducted their 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.

Publisher's Note - Consider joining one of your local veterans organizations.

During their 1923 encampment, the VFW 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.

The Name Is Registered

In February 1924, we registered the name "Buddy Poppy" with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting our organization all trademark rights in the name of "Buddy" under the classification of artificial flowers. We've made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name Buddy Poppy.

The Poppies Work For Vets, Children

Today, our Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals. The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children. https://www.vfwnationalhome.org/

Show Your Support

Show your support today. Host a Buddy Poppy drive in your town, or have your local government issue a special proclamation. https://vfworg-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/VFWSite/Files/Community/BP-Proclamation-Fillable.pdf?v=1&d=20190513T193308Z&la=en

Those Who Assemble Speak

Hear from those who assemble the mighty little flowers in "The Veterans Behind the Buddy Poppy" video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TUjEMJjSZY

https://www.vfw.org/community/community-initiatives/buddy-poppy

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow,

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 are the Dead. Short days ago,

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

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.