Buddy Poppy

VFW Post 1 honors the sacrifices of American Service members by organizing Buddy Poppy donation drives in the Denver-metro community, and continues the tradition of the Buddy Poppy Queen at our events.

Since 1922, the Buddy Poppy has been an integral part of the VFW community. As VFW’s official memorial flower, the poppy represents the bloodshed by American service members. The VFW was the first veterans organization to organize a nationwide poppy drive initiative to help support veterans and veterans’ programs. 

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.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

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.