Commissioners proclaim May as Buddy Poppy Month
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Highland County commissioners Jeff Duncan, Terry Britton and David Daniels proclaimed May 2021 as Buddy Poppy Month in Highland County during their April 28 meeting.
Accepting the proclamation on behalf of VFW Post 9094 were Commander Rick Wilkin, Senior Vice Commander Dwight Reynolds and Junior Vice Commander John Walker.
Buddy Poppies, which “honor the dead by helping the living,” will be available by donation at a number of locations across the county, according to Wilkin, both through cans set up at businesses and volunteers collecting donations at area stores.
“All proceeds and donations that come in go to our relief fund to help veterans in need,” Wilkin told commissioners. “The money all stays here in Highland County. It’s all for our local people, and 100 percent of it goes back to [them].”
Reynolds added that the poppies are assembled by disabled veterans. “We purchase them through the VFW every year, just to help those people, but the money that we collect from it stays in Highland County,” he said.
Daniels said one of his “earliest memories as a kid” was seeing the Buddy Poppies at the grocery store.
“It’s a good program,” Daniels said. “It’s lasted because of the work that you all have done and the significance that it shares.
“We’re proud that this has been an ongoing project for you guys and that it’s been as successful as it has been.”
Wilkin agreed, saying he remembers “being little in Lynchburg” and seeing the local veterans sharing the Buddy Poppies on Memorial Day.
After meeting with the local veterans, Duncan read the proclamation, declaring May 2021 as Buddy Poppy Month in Highland County and encouraging “all citizens 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 of the freedoms which we continue to enjoy as American citizens.”
For more information on how to support this fundraiser, call VFW Post 9094 at (937) 393-0211.
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Accepting the proclamation on behalf of VFW Post 9094 were Commander Rick Wilkin, Senior Vice Commander Dwight Reynolds and Junior Vice Commander John Walker.
Buddy Poppies, which “honor the dead by helping the living,” will be available by donation at a number of locations across the county, according to Wilkin, both through cans set up at businesses and volunteers collecting donations at area stores.
“All proceeds and donations that come in go to our relief fund to help veterans in need,” Wilkin told commissioners. “The money all stays here in Highland County. It’s all for our local people, and 100 percent of it goes back to [them].”
Reynolds added that the poppies are assembled by disabled veterans. “We purchase them through the VFW every year, just to help those people, but the money that we collect from it stays in Highland County,” he said.
Daniels said one of his “earliest memories as a kid” was seeing the Buddy Poppies at the grocery store.
“It’s a good program,” Daniels said. “It’s lasted because of the work that you all have done and the significance that it shares.
“We’re proud that this has been an ongoing project for you guys and that it’s been as successful as it has been.”
Wilkin agreed, saying he remembers “being little in Lynchburg” and seeing the local veterans sharing the Buddy Poppies on Memorial Day.
After meeting with the local veterans, Duncan read the proclamation, declaring May 2021 as Buddy Poppy Month in Highland County and encouraging “all citizens 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 of the freedoms which we continue to enjoy as American citizens.”
For more information on how to support this fundraiser, call VFW Post 9094 at (937) 393-0211.
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