Across the nation in communities

where VFW Posts are situated, their members will be stationed in front

of businesses distributing a red Buddy Poppy to all the citizens as they

pass by. Members of Peachtree City Post 9949 of the Veterans of Foreign

Wars of the United States of America will be distributing these poppies

on Veterans Day in Peachtree City. We will also be collecting contributions

for our Veterans Relief Fund

The poppy has its genesis as

a symbol of remembrance in the poem "In Flanders Fields" by

Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces before the United States entered

WW I. Replicas of the Flanders' poppy were distributed in some allied

countries immediately after Armistice Day. In 1921 foreign made poppies

were first distributed in the USA on a national basis by the Franco-American

Children's League.

Prior to Memorial Day 1922

the VFW made its first nationwide poppy distribution using French-made

poppies. The VFW used a mixture of French and New York manufactured poppies

in its 1923 distribution.

Following the 1923 campaign,

the VFW at its national encampment formalized the VFW Buddy Poppy distribution

using poppies assembled by needy veterans who were paid for their efforts.

In February 1924 the VFW registered the name "Buddy Poppy" with

the U.S. Patent Office and a trademark was issued.

Today needy veterans in veterans

hospitals, veterans homes and in their domiciles assemble the Buddy Poppy

and are paid for their efforts. It is a national requirement that the

proceeds from the Buddy Poppy Drive be placed in a separate Veterans Relief

Fund. These funds may only be used to help needy veterans, their families,

their widows and their orphans.

In addition to helping needy

individual veterans whose needs are brought to our attention, members

of Post 9949 make regular visits to all veterans domiciled in Southland

Nursing Home taking them gifts. We are also issuing free membership in

the VFW to these Southland residents who meet the foreign service requirement

and have extended to all their resident veterans an offer of a free memorial

brick to be placed at the Peachtree City Veterans Memorial.

Applications for VFW Memorial

Bricks will be available during our Buddy Poppy distribution. You may

request a brick as a permanent memorial to the service in the US armed

forces of any ancestor, relative or friend regardless of where they live.

A tax deductible donation of $25 will be accepted.

There is room for only 1,600

of these memorial bricks around the Peachtree City Veterans Memorial,

so we urge you to subscribe for bricks for your loved ones before our

space is filled. We currently have orders for 220 bricks of which 190+

bricks are in place. Stop by the Veterans Memorial near the flag poles

at the corner of the City Office/Library Complex and see what a lovely

memorial and setting we have to honor your beloved veterans.

Like the Marines, Post 9949

is in need of a few more men and women with qualified foreign service

to join our post. Our largest pool of eligibles and members from World

War II is being rapidly depleted by death. We need younger veterans to

replace these stalwarts. Membership applications will be available during

the Buddy Poppy Drive.

Don't forget your veterans:

Pick up a Buddy Poppy as a remembrance and a tribute to their sacrifices.

Bob Konrad,Quartermaster VFW Post

9949

Peachtree City