Thank you for help with "Buddy" poppies

By Leon Bartholomay

Adjutant and Quarter Master, Longs Peak VFW Post 2601

During this year’s Memorial Day Weekend, volunteer members of Longmont’s Longs Peak VFW Post 2601 and its Ladies Auxilliary teamed up with several local businesses to carry on a long standing tradition of distributing “Buddy” poppies to our citizens.

This tradition has carried on since 1922 and all funds raised through this effort goes directly to Veteran’s Charitable Programs on behalf of the needy and disabled veterans, their family members, and the surviving family members of deceased veterans.

The poppy has become recognized as the memorial flower of veterans in countries throughout the world. It is distributed by veterans organizations in Europe, North America, and in most of the countries of the British Commonwealth. Some 10 million “Buddy” poppies are distributed annually and more than 10 million dollars is raised each year, all of it strictly accounted for and dedicated entirely to veterans welfare. The services made possible through these donations are available to ALL needy veterans and their families. The poppies are assembled by our disabled veterans in our VA Hospitals and the nominal fee they receive for their services helps them buy the little luxuries which make their life more tolerable.

We want to thank the businesses who welcomed our “Buddy” poppy tables and volunteers, which included The Ace Hardware Store on Main Street, Lucky’s Market on Ken Pratt, Sprout’s on Hover, King Soopers on Pace, King Soopers on Hover, and King Soopers on Main Street. Their managers and employees went out of their way to help us connect with and share our “Buddy” poppy tradition with hundreds of our wonderful citizens.

All of our store front locations throughout the weekend reported many stories from our citizens regaling their memories of being involved themselves in Poppy programs throughout the years with their parents, grandparents and children. Many reported being delighted that the program of the poppy is still alive and well. We heard from visitor’s from New Zealand, Australia, England, Africa and they all reported that in many of their cities the poppies are distributed and worn year long and they were especially happy to celebrate its importance here in the U.S. Many parents over the weekend stopped by our tables with their young kids and passed on to them the information of the poppy as their parents had done for them.

One veteran and his wife stopped by a table and he reported a VFW Post had assisted he and his wife, through their service program funded by poppy donations, during a very tough financial time in their lives and he has since returned the favor to other vets by “paying it forward”.

Again thanks to all of our business partners during this incredible weekend and to all of the great citizens who stopped by our stations. We look forward to continuing this program within our community and remember to wear your poppy, and do it proudly. When you are handed a “Buddy” poppy, give generously. Remember, when you drop a donation in a poppy canister you have contributed to the Veterans of foreign Wars Colorado and National Home for children of deceased or disabled veterans and to direct assistance programs for needy and disabled veterans and active service members and their families in this community.