Since 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, Coronado Post 2422 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars has been home to our warriors and the men and women of our armed forces.
Coronado’s VFW Hall has been the go-to place for veterans throughout the year, every year. It’s a place they can go to find camaraderie, food and drink, networking; they can receive financial assistance, watch a televised sporting event, or just feel at home away from home with others who can relate to their experiences.
Annually VFW Post 2422 honors events like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Buddy Poppy Day and other special anniversaries that serve as a platform from which to celebrate our cherished veterans, past and present.
This year, on Monday, November 12, the VFW will open their doors to the public for a spectacular luncheon (11am-2pm) at 557 Orange Avenue. The open house and free lunch will consist of pulled pork, numerous side dishes and a no-host bar.
During this time, to help us remember veterans dating back to World War I, the VFW will be selling small lapel pins called Buddy Poppies, as it has done since 1922.
The history and significance of the tiny Buddy Poppy, with the traditional red surrounding green bloom, is such that it should be passed down to our children, and shared in our schools to ensure this marvelous little international symbol will continue to evoke memories of veterans who gave their lives for their country and for our freedom.
“This is our way of reminding our community why the VFW is here,” said Michael Turner, spokesman for Coronado VFW. “You couldn’t find a better symbol for veterans than the Buddy Poppy.”
This inexpensive, yet elegant platform enables the VFW to continue to serve their motto of, “Honoring the dead by helping the living” and it visually reminds the community to take a moment to remember our veterans.
Buddy Poppies are made by disabled veterans and are available at the VFW post leading up to Veterans Day for a donation – any donation.
Proceeds from poppy sales provide compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, as well as providing financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs.
These monies are also used to perpetuate the memory of deceased veterans and members of the Armed Forces, and to comfort their survivors. Nationally, the VFW has sold more than one billion Buddy Poppies.
The story of the Buddy Poppy is straight from the heart, and has become emblematic of the blood shed in World War I by millions of Allied soldiers in the defense of freedom, and in every war since.
On those WWI battlefields of Belgium, poppies grew wild amid the devastated landscape. As the earth was turned to create graves for fallen soldiers, poppy seeds began to grow freely among the graves and on the crosses.
The Buddy Poppy tribute was created by the people of France. The movement originated as a way to provide relief for the people of war-torn France. It was inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces in 1915, before the United States entered WWI.
Buddy Poppies were endorsed early on by the Prince of Wales, and continue to be extremely popular in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Cuba.
Later this month, the Coronado VFW will also host their annual Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 22, which is also open to the public.
Membership to the Veterans of Foreign Wars is inexpensive and provides many benefits to veterans. There are a few remaining WWII VFW members at Coronado Post 2422. The majority of the membership, however, is made up of veterans from Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Persian Gulf/Iraq, and every major conflict, including the war on terrorism.
Membership benefits include medical assistance, educational opportunities for you and your family, access to extensive, national lobbying presence in Washington designed to protect GI benefits and pass those benefits on to your children. The VFW has proudly held the Veterans Association accountable and helped out in the community through the years since their founding.
Membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars is only $43 a year. For details on the Veterans’ Day luncheon, Thanksgiving Dinner or joining as a member of the VFW, contact them directly.
Coronado VFW Post 2422 is located at 557 Orange Avenue. For more information visit www.vfwpost2422.com or call (619) 435-6917.
[This release prepared by Joe Ditler and Part-Time PR, serving the needs of Coronado businesses and non-profits since 1985. For more information write or call [email protected] or (619) 435-0767]
