Buddy Poppies being handed out by Cheney VFW to celebrate 25th anniversary

Cheney Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year by handing out Buddy Poppies. The symbolic poppy is made by wounded veterans in VA hospitals and has made appearances at local events like Mayfest and the Memorial Day Ceremony at Fairview Cemetery so far this year.

The next event that Buddy Poppies will be distributed at will be the Cheney Rodeo parade and the rodeo opening ceremony.

Poppies are sold by donations only and 100 percent of the money collected goes to a"Relief Fund" where it is used for veterans in distress in the Cheney-Medical Lake area.

The VFW will also be selling commemorative silver coins for $8. After the VFW breaks even on the cost of coins, the remainder of the funds goes to active duty and veterans in distress, especially those military families that are going through separation with their loved ones serving in war zones overseas.

"We will be presenting the color guard and manning a booth to share about us, ask for donations on the poppies and sell our silver coins," Allan Gainer, the quartermaster at the VFW Cheney Post said.

Buddy Poppies were first distributed before Memorial Day in 1922 and the VFW was the first veterans' organization to have a nationwide distribution. The poppy was later adopted as the official memorial flower of the VFW of the United States.

In 1924, the Buddy Poppy was registered with the U.S. Patent Office and a certificate was issued later in the year, granting the organization with all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers.

"We have made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans," Gainer said. "No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name Buddy Poppy."

Cheney VFW was formed in November of 1996. Today, the post in Cheney is named A&T Mattausch Cheney Post 11326 after Alan and Trudy Mattausch.

"We are now growing and we hope to play more of a role in the community for our veterans and those who are currently serving now," Gainer added.

Grace Pohl can be reached at grace@cheneyfreepress.com.