VFW poppies raise funds for the needy

By Bob Wade

For hundreds of long-term disabled veterans in Veterans Administration hospitals and in state veterans homes, every day is VFW Buddy Poppy Day.

These are the men who assemble the poppies, tie them in bunches of 10 and pack them in boxes of 500, 1,000 or 2,000 for shipment to the 10,000 Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and auxiliaries throughout the nation.

Poppy assembly is a year-round project in 10 veterans facilities and a part-time program in others. Some are under the direction of the VFW organization in the state in which they are located, and other are supervised and directed by the National VFW Buddy Poppy Department.

The assembly procedure varies from facility to facility, depending upon the emphasis given to the various aspects of the program by the project director.

The VFW pays the disabled veterans for their work in most cases. The money provides extra income for the disabled veterans to pay for the little luxuries that make hospital life tolerable.

Sometimes the poppy assembly is used as a therapy program under direct supervision of hospital personnel. This provides exercise for fingers and hands crippled by wounds, disease and the effects of old age.

One of the most successful adaptations of the poppy assembly program is its use as a step toward the rehabilitation of psychiatric patients. The experience and training in concentration and supervised work in assembling poppies has led to more complicated duties and eventual discharge.

From the time it leaves the hospital until it graces the coat lapel or dress front of the individual citizen, the poppy provides care for the widows and orphans of deceased veterans, provides funds for veterans rehabilitation services, pays for the direct relief to the families of needy and deceased veterans and serves as a memorial to the dead of all wars of the United States.

More than 16 million poppies will be assembled this year and will be distributed by VFW posts and auxiliaries throughout the nation. Each of them will have traveled a long way, and each will have helped to make someone happier.

The annual distribution of poppies is the only public solicitation conducted by the VFW. The distribution in this area will be May 23-24 at the Bank of America on William Street, Food Giant, Kmart, Wal-Mart, the post office and Sam's Club.

Bob Wade is the Buddy Poppy Day chairman of the Clippard-Wilson-Taylor Post 3838 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.