Before
Memorial Day in 1922, we conducted our 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 our 1923 encampment, we 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, we registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent
Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting our
organization all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the
classification of artificial flowers. We've made that trademark a
guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are
genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other
organization, firm or individual can legally use the name, Buddy Poppy.
Today, our 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 and
partially supports the VFW National Home For Children.
