May 21 is the kickoff for Buddy® Poppy Week. In Merrill, Mayor Steve Hass signed a proclamation declaring May 21-28, 2023, as Buddy® Poppy Week. You will see veterans throughout the community holding boards of the small red poppy flowers, and you may wonder what that’s all about. In particular, you will see them set up near Park City Credit Union’s main office by Walmart and by Dave’s County Market.
Each year since 1922, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Posts and their Auxiliaries in the United States hold an annual campaign where they distribute and share Buddy® Poppies and the public is invited to take a poppy for a freewill donation and display it proudly as a sign of their support for veterans and in particular, in memory of veterans who have lost their lives serving our country. Some will affix it in their buttonhole and wear it proudly. Others may put it on their bulletin board, desk, or rearview mirror of their vehicle.
The Buddy® Poppies themselves are assembled by disabled, needy, and aging veterans in VA Hospitals and State Veterans Homes across the country.
“All money contributed by the public for Buddy® Poppies is used in the cause of veterans’ welfare, or for the well being of their needy dependents and the orphans of veterans,” said Kathy Palazzo, local VFW Post 1638 Adjutant and Buddy® Poppy Committee Member. “The majority of proceeds derived from each campaign conducted by VFW Posts and their Auxiliaries are retained locally to provide for veteran services and welfare. Buddy® Poppy proceeds represent no profit to any VFW unit.”
“We will be set up at Park City Credit Union throughout the week for easy drive-by poppy distribution with a free will donation,” Palazzo said. There will also be walk-up poppy distribution at Dave’s County Market this year. If community members aren’t able to come to these locations and would still like to make a donation, they can mail it to VFW Post 1638 Auxiliary – Buddy Poppy, 601 Johnson St., Merrill, WI 54452.
The poppy flower has been recognized as the memorial flower worldwide and is distributed by veterans organizations in memory of their fallen soldiers in North America, Europe, and in most of the countries of the British Commonwealth.