The Buddy Poppy: A Symbol of Remembrance, Sacrifice, and Service

For more than a century, the red poppy has served as a powerful symbol of remembrance for the men and women who sacrificed in defense of freedom. For the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Buddy Poppy represents more than remembrance—it also represents the VFW's continuing commitment to helping veterans, service members, and their families.

From the Battlefields of World War I

The story of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance begins during World War I. The fighting devastated much of the countryside of Belgium and France, but among the battle-scarred fields, bright red poppies continued to grow.

In 1915, Canadian physician and soldier Lt. Col. John McCrae wrote the famous poem "In Flanders Fields” after the death of a fellow soldier. The poem opens with the memorable words:

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row…”

The poem helped establish the red poppy as an international symbol honoring those who died during military service.

The VFW Buddy Poppy

The Veterans of Foreign Wars conducted its first nationwide poppy distribution in 1922. The following year, the VFW developed what became known as the Buddy Poppy, establishing a tradition that continues today.

The name "Buddy Poppy” reflects the friendship and camaraderie shared by those who served together. Each poppy reminds us of the buddies who never returned home and of the veterans who still need our support.

VFW Posts across the country distribute Buddy Poppies to their communities and accept donations to help support authorized veteran relief and assistance programs. The Buddy Poppy is therefore both a symbol of remembrance and a way to continue the VFW's mission of serving veterans.

When someone wears a Buddy Poppy, they are sending a simple but powerful message:

We remember. We honor. We continue to serve.

Post 8336 Takes the Buddy Poppy Tradition to the State Convention

The members of VFW Elwood Perkins Memorial Post 8336 of Moapa Valley, Nevada, proudly carried that tradition forward at the VFW State Convention in June by entering a handcrafted display in the Buddy Poppy Display competition.

The display was created by Post 8336 member Garren Fulmer, who dedicated his time and creativity to developing a project representing the spirit of the Buddy Poppy and the veterans it honors. The creation displayed an American tank moving across a field of poppies. 

Although the Post 8336 display did not win the competition because it did not incorporate enough official VFW Buddy Poppies to meet the competition requirements, the project still made an impression.

The display was well liked by the judges, who recognized the creativity and effort that went into the project.

While bringing home an award would have been an honor, the real accomplishment was representing VFW Elwood Perkins Post 8336 and the Moapa Valley community at the state level while helping keep the meaning of the Buddy Poppy alive.

Post 8336 would like to recognize and thank Garren Fulmer for creating the display and representing our Post through his hard work and creativity.

More Than Just a Flower

The Buddy Poppy may be small, but the message behind it is enormous.

It represents the service member who never came home.

It represents the veteran who returned carrying wounds that may be visible or unseen.

It represents the families who sacrificed alongside them.

And it represents a promise from one generation of veterans to another: you will not be forgotten.

When members of VFW Elwood Perkins Post 8336 distribute Buddy Poppies throughout Moapa Valley, we encourage our neighbors to take one, wear it proudly, and remember what it represents.

The Buddy Poppy connects the battlefields of the past with the veterans we serve today. More than 100 years after the end of World War I, that little red flower continues to remind us of an important responsibility:

Honor the dead by helping the living.

🇺🇸 VFW Elwood Perkins Post 8336
Moapa Valley, Nevada

🌺 Remember the Fallen • Honor Their Sacrifice • Support Our Veterans