Before Memorial Day in 1922, we conducted our first poppy distribution, becoming the first veterans' organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy was soon adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 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 Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting our organization all trademark rights under the classification of artificial flowers in the name of Buddy. No other organization, firm, or individual can legally use the name Buddy Poppy.

The VFW Buddy Poppy program compensates those who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs, and partially supports the VFW National Home. Show your support today. Host a Buddy Poppy drive in your town, or have your local government issue a special proclamation. 

Hear from those who assemble the mighty little flowers in our "Behind the Buddy Poppy" video.