Poppies Help Veterans With Your Donation

Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt signed a proclamation endorsing the poppy sales in Oskaloosa to benefit veterans. Cheryl Ferree and Sue Flander with the Oskaloosa VFW Auxillary watch as the proclomation was signed.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt signed a proclamation in his office Friday afternoon officially recognizing the annual event of Buddy Poppies by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States.

The primary purpose of the annual sale of Buddy Poppies by the VFW is reflected in the desire to “Honor the Dead by Helping the Living”. Members will be at various locations throughout town in the coming days.

Disabled veterans assemble VFW Buddy Poppies, and the proceeds of the fund-raising campaign are used exclusively for the benefit of disabled and needy veterans, and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans.

As VFW’s official memorial flower, the Poppy represents the blood shed by American service members. It reiterates that VFW will not forget their sacrifices.

“In Flanders Field, the Poppies blow beneath the crosses row on row.” Colonel John McCrea wrote these words in memory of the WWI fallen soldiers. These words prompted the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary to make the Poppy their memorial flower and mandate that the contributions received from the distribution of the Poppies are used only for assisting Veterans and their families. This is the beginning of the Poppy Program.

This program provides each of us the opportunity to help our Veterans and their families. Many challenges face our world today, and one of the most critical issues is providing for Veterans and their families. Through our Poppy Program, we have assured the Veterans that they “have not” and “will not” be forgotten. There isn’t any symbol of freedom as poignant as the “Flanders Field Poppy.”

In Flanders Fields

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.