Courtesy photo Shown are, from left to right, are Bill Lamarch, life member and chaplain V.F.W. 2998; John Pickard, 5th Zone commander of Sons Of The American Legion; and Steve Kwarciany, quartemaster of V.F.W. 2998 and commander of Delta County Veterans.

ESCANABA — Before Memorial Day in 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars conducted their 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 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 V.F.W. registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting their organization all trademark rights in the name of “Buddy” under the classification of artificial flowers. That trademark guarantees all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans.

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. Local sales help veterans in our area.