Commissioners issue Buddy Poppy Month proclamation
Highland County commissioners proclaimed the month of May as Buddy Poppy Month, with the proclamation accepted by VFW Post 9094 representatives. Pictured are (front, l-r) Raider the dog and Lee Harris; and (back, l-r) Dick Emery, Dwight Reynolds, Becky Williams, Steph Roland, David DeAtley and commissioners Brad Roades, David Daniels and Terry Britton. (HCP Photo/Caitlin Forsha)
Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades proclaimed the month of May as Buddy Poppy Month in Highland County during their Wednesday, April 29 meeting.
Accepting the proclamation were David DeAtley, Dick Emery, Lee Harris, Dwight Reynolds, Steph Roland and Becky Williams of the VFW Post 9094 and Auxiliary.
Buddy Poppies have been sold by VFW organizations since 1922. All donations from the sale of Buddy Poppies stay in the county and are put into the VFW’s relief fund, which is used to help local veterans. The poppies are also assembled by disabled veterans.
Reynolds spoke about the significance of helping veterans however possible, especially in light of high numbers of veteran suicides.
“It's a very worthy cause,” Reynolds said. “The money stays local. It goes to needy veterans and their families.
“To make you aware of this, for the stress on these veterans between 1979 and 2019, there’s been 94,476 veterans has committed suicide. The rate right now, on a daily basis, is 18. Since the Vietnam War, in the last decade, there's been more veteran suicides than was killed in Vietnam, which is over 60,000 veterans. If we can, in any small way, help contribute to their stress relief, that's what this money is going for.”
[Note: According to the 988 Lifeline website, “Free, 24/7, confidential support is a call away. The Veterans Crisis Line can help even if you’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care. Dial 988 then Press 1. If you are a veteran, service member, or any person concerned about one who is hard of hearing, you can connect with professional, caring VA responders through online chat and text message (838255).”)
Buddy Poppies, which “honor the dead by helping the living,” will be available by donation at various locations throughout the month of May.
“I know you guys do a great job out there, and we just appreciate everything that you do,” Britton said.
After meeting with the group, Britton read the proclamation to proclaim May as Buddy Poppy Month in Highland County and to encourage the community to “acknowledge the significance, goodwill and importance that the VFW holds” and “to wear a Buddy Poppy as mute evidence of our gratitude to the men and women of this country who have risked their lives in defense for the freedoms which we continue to enjoy as American citizens.”
For more information on supporting the Buddy Poppies fundraiser, please contact the VFW at (937) 393-0211.
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