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“Buddy” Poppy Chairman’s ManualA BRIEF HISTORYSince 1922, the “Buddy” Poppy has been an integral partof the VFW community. As VFW’s official memorialflower, the Poppy represents the blood shed by Americanservice members. It reiterates the VFW will not forgettheir sacrifices.The Poppy movement was inspired by Canadian ArmyCol. John McCrae’s famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.”Poppies were originally distributed by theFranco-American Children’s League to benefit children inthe devastated areas of France and Belgium followingWWI.In 1922, VFW conducted a campaign and got Poppiesfrom France. Members soon discovered it took too long toget the flowers in from France and they came up with abetter idea. Disabled, hospitalized and aging veteranscould make the paper flowers and ship them out to themembers for distribution.And so it was known, for veterans in VA hospitals anddomiciliaries and in state veterans’ homes, every daywould be VFW “Buddy” Poppy Day. These men andwomen assemble the Poppies, tie them in bunches of 10and pack them in boxes of 500, 1,000 or 2,000 forshipment to the Posts and Auxiliaries. VFW pays thedisabled veteran for the work. In most cases, this extramoney provides additional income for the worker to payfor the little luxuries which make life more tolerable.Furthermore, Poppy assembly is often used as a therapyprogram to provide exercise for fingers and handscrippled by wounds, disease and the effects of old age.Another reason Poppies are so important is because allproceeds from distribution are used for veteran’s welfareor for the well being of their needy dependents and theorphans of veterans. More than 2,300 children ofveterans have been, or are being cared for in the VFWNational Home in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, thanks to aportion of Poppy funds.As your Post’s Buddy Poppy Chairman, you need to buildenthusiasm for this program. Reiterate to your fellowmembers the two-fold importance of Poppies. It’s truly allabout veterans helping veterans and living up to VFW’smotto of “No One Does More for Veterans.”Recognition is Important, Too!It is only human nature to desire and appreciaterecognition for a job well done. A word of praise oftenmeans more than any kind of financial reward - especiallyif it is done publicly. It is in recognition of these truthsthat special citation awards are made available throughthe VFW Department Headquarters or “Buddy” PoppyChairman. Check with them to determine the rules ineffect in your Department. Don’t overlook the faithfulPost or Auxiliary member who goes on the streets eachyear to distribute Poppies. Recognize their efforts at Postor Auxiliary meetings.DISTRIBUTION OF BUDDY POPPIES SHOULD BEINCLUDED IN EVERY POST, DISTRICT ORDEPARTMENT ACTIVITY OR ANYTHING IN WHICHYOU PARTICIPATE. MEMBERSHIP DRIVES,PATRIOTIC EVENTS, EVEN BINGO SHOULD INCLUDEDISTRIBUTION OF OUR FAVORITE FLOWER!There are two critical components to conducting asuccessful campaign:PLANNING & ENTHUSIASMPlanning ensures nothing will be left to chance and therewill be plenty of Poppies for distribution. And the moreenthusiasm you demonstrate, the greater your chances ofinspiring others to help make this year’s campaign a truesuccess.

Identify potential volunteers within your Post andAuxiliary and gather them together for aninformational meeting explaining the purpose ofthe Buddy Poppy campaign.OVERCOMING ADVERSITYMany factors can lead to poor Buddy Poppy distributions.Perhaps you live in a bustling city like Chicago or NewYork City where folks aren’t as eager to stop on thestreets. Or maybe you live in a town with only 600 peopleand you’d be lucky to hand out 200 Poppies in a week. Orperhaps your members are primarily older and in failinghealth. Plan on each volunteer distributing 200 Poppies. Itsounds like a lot, but with the right placement inthe community, 200 will go fast.If any of these sound familiar, perhaps you should trya different approach to handing out the Poppies andraising funds for needy veterans. Multiply the number of volunteers by 200 andthat’s approximately how many you should order.Below is a list of alternative methods for distributingPoppies:Here are some important things to consider whenpreparing for your Buddy Poppy distribution: Choose distribution dates. Memorial Day andVeterans Day are always a popular time, but anytime is a good time to distribute this memorialflower. Request from your Department Headquartersan order form to purchase your Poppies at least8 to 12 weeks in advance of your distributiondates. Stake out key distribution venues in advance. Choose high traffic areas and determine thenumber of workers you need to cover the locations.Ideal locations include storefronts, office or factoryentrances and recreational areas. Make sure you get permission from the businessowners before setting up shop. Post flyers aroundtown in key areas such as the Post Office, coffeeshops, gas stations, etc. It will let people knowwhen and where they can get a Buddy Poppy. If your local newspaper has a community calendarsection, be sure to let the editor know about twoweeks in advance that you’d like to place yourPoppy announcement on the calendar. Encourage your volunteers to smile and beenthusiastic during the distribution. If they appearfriendly, it will project a good image for VFW. Make sure your volunteers wear their VFW orAuxiliary caps. Remind your volunteers that they are not “selling”Poppies, but distributing them with the hope ofgetting donations.If you follow these simple steps, your Buddy Poppycampaign is sure to be a success. Sell coat hanger wreaths made out of Poppies. Usea child-sized wire coat hanger and bend it into acircle. Straighten the hook to make a ground stake. Wind the stems of about 50 Poppies around thewire to complete your wreath. Popular aroundMemorial Day. Make a “Wall of Remembrance” at your Post.Patrons can request a Poppy in honor of a lovedone who has died. Their name gets placed on thewall with a Poppy hanging next to it. Honorees’names can be typed on note cards with the Poppiesstapled to them. Use Poppies to make table centerpieces that can beraffled off at Post suppers. Contact another civic organization in yourcommunity and ask if you can give a smallpresentation on the Buddy Poppy. Be sure tohave plenty with you, as you’ll likely get severaltakers. Set up a booth at county fairs, public forums,school events, church suppers or other civicorganization meetings.Let your imagination and that of your volunteers guideyou in distributing these beautiful red flowers.REMEMBER: NEVER REFUSE SOMEONE A POPPYBECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO CONTRIBUTE. APOPPY ON ANYONE’S LAPEL HONORS ALLVETERANS!

NATIONAL BUDDY POPPY CONTESTA Buddy Poppy Display Contest will be held at theNational Convention. Rules have been designed to putemphasis on the purpose and effectiveness of thedisplays. It is suggested that Department Contest rules beset up in conformance with this outline.RulesDisplays will be presented and judged in three categories:Category 1. Public Promotion of Poppy Campaign(Window, booth, parade, poster displays, campaignpromotions, etc.)Displays must be designed for public exposure and mustbear a message soliciting a donation for and wearing ofthe VFW Buddy Poppy. At least one Poppy used in thedisplay must be in its original form and color, with labelattached.Category 2. Memorial or Inspirational Displays(Wreaths, memorial tablets or plaques, patriotic ordevotional themes)Displays must be designed to honor the dead, to inspiredevotion to God and Country, or to dramatize theactivities supported by the Buddy Poppy. At least onePoppy used in the display must be in its original form andcolor, with label attached.Category 3. Artistic or Decorative Use of Poppies(Post Home displays, table centerpieces, corsages,pictures, plaques, models, scenes, hats, novelty pieces,etc.)Any display not meeting the qualifications for Categories1 or 2 shall automatically be entered in wdCategory 3. Atleast one Poppy used in the display must be in originalform and color, with label attached.provided in the Convention exhibit or meeting halls. Atthe time the display is set up, the responsible personmust complete an entry form which will show thecategory of competition, the number of Poppies used, thepurpose of the display, the Post and/or Auxiliary numberand location, and the name of the person who willdismantle and remove the display at the close of theConvention.Displays may be accompanied by a white card, not toexceed 4 X 6 inches in size, on which is lettered inblack ink an explanation of the theme for the display orother information of interest to the viewer or the judges.Post name, Post number, city or state (including theshape of your state) may not be visible on displayentries; failure to comply will result in disqualification.Any use of non VFW trademarks or copyrighted materialon your display must have prior approval from thetrademark or copyright holder. These include but are notlimited to names, logos, audio/visual graphics, imagesand/or props. The VFW and Buddy Poppy logo and nameis authorized but use of any outside organizationtrademark or copyrighted material and/or logos musthave prior approval through their respectiveorganization.JudgingJudging of displays will be on the basis of effectiveness,purpose, clarity of theme, suitability, originality, beautyand number of Poppies used. Where a sample of a largenumber of identical items (such as corsages or wreaths) isentered, full credit shall be given for the total number ofPoppies used.PrizesPlaques will be awarded to the first, second, andthirdplace winners in each of the three categories.SPECIAL NOTE: Departments purchasing over 250,000Poppies will be allowed two displays in each of the threecategories for the National Display Contest. All otherswill be allowed one display in each of the threecategories.NATIONAL BUDDY POPPY AWARDSEach year, awards are given to Department Commanders,Department Buddy Poppy Chairmen and PostCommanders and their respective Auxiliarycounterparts. The contests are as follows:The Department Adjutant will have to notify thePrograms Director, in writing, by June 30 of the Poststhat will represent the Department in each category. Thiswill allow us the time necessary to ensure each entry hassufficient space to set up at the National Convention.Over One Million Buddy Poppy ClubThe National Programs Committee shall have noresponsibility in setting up, taking down, or returningdisplays. Displays may be entered and set up at any timefrom 8 a.m. Saturday until 12 Noon on Monday of theConvention week. Displays shall be set up in spaceRecipients: Department Commander & AuxiliaryPresident.Criteria: A national award will be issued to thoseDepartments that have purchased 1 million or moreBuddy Poppies during the current program year. Awardedautomatically and presented at VFW’s NationalConvention.