The Buddy Poppy

The Buddy Poppy is a small silk flower — made by hospitalized veterans in VA Medical Centers throughout the nation — inspired by In Flanders Field, a poem written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD, a Canadian physician, while serving at a medical station in Ypres during World War I.

Since that time, the poppy, in one form or another, has become the symbol of veterans throughout the world. Several nations use a poppy to raise funds for their veterans programs. In the United States, the VFW and other veterans service organizations hold annual drives — distributing the cheery red flower, and accepting donations. Drives may be held at any time, but are most often conducted on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, when the nation takes time to remember our veterans’ sacrifice.

Posts and Auxiliary units must purchase their supply of Poppies distributed in the drives. The costs of the Poppies cover the pay of the veterans who make them — and a small portion of the proceeds go to support the VFW National Home for Children.

After the Poppies are purchased, they’re largely distributed to VFW members and the local community. According to the VFW National Bylaws, 100% of the proceeds from the Poppy drives are to be placed in the Post Relief Fund, to be used solely for assistance to veterans and their families. Not one cent of Poppy proceeds can be used for general expenses of the organization. Their sole purpose is to help veterans in need.

In Flanders Field and Miss Moina Michael

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; Be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

                                           -- Lt. Col. John McRae, MD

The poem In Flanders Field inspired Miss Moina Michael to make the original Flanders Field Memorial Poppy, which today has raised millions of dollars for veterans and their families. Miss Michael became known to millions of WWI veterans as the “Poppy Lady” — and on Nov. 9, 1918, she wrote the following poem in response to In Flanders Field:

We Shall Keep the Faith
Oh! You who sleep in "Flanders Fields,"
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the Torch you threw
And, holding high we keep the Faith.
With all who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields were valor led:
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
But lend a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

An now the Torch and Poppy red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We've learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders Fields.