Buddy Poppy Distribution 2020

Description

Traditionally, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) has given away Buddy Poppies at about 20 locations in Fountain Hills on the Friday and Saturday before Memorial Day. But this year with the Coronavirus public health situation, VFW Post is limiting its distribution points for the safety of both the general public and its members (many of who are in the most vulnerable category, having served in WW II, Korea, VietNam and other conflicts over 50 years ago). Free Buddy Poppies will be distributed only at Ace Hardware, Bashas', Walgreens and Safeway on Friday and Saturday, May 22 and 23. Hours at the various locations may vary but will not be outside the hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 pm and possibly to 7 p.m. at some locations. 

Before Memorial Day in 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) conducted its 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. 

During the VFW’s 1923 encampment, it was 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.

In February 1924, the name Buddy Poppy was registered with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting the VFW all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. The VFW 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.

Today, 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.

Buddy Poppies are distributed free to all as a way to honor all service members who have paid the ultimate price in service to their country.  Contributions are gratefully and cheerfully accepted but are not required.  All money’s collected locally from Buddy Poppy voluntary donations is used to support veterans in need and cannot be used to support the Post.  The Post buys the Buddy Poppies from the national VFW and those funds pay the disable veterans who manufacture the Buddy Poppies and are also used to support the VFW National Home for Children which houses children orphaned by loss of a military parent.