Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman, along with members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Edwin Frohmader Post 1879 and Auxiliary have announced that the annual “Buddy Poppy” campaign will soon be underway.
According to information released by the post, auxiliary, and city manager, the campaign will take place Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7, and will be facilitated through participation by local businesses throughout the Fort Atkinson area.
According to the release: “Every day is poppy day for hundreds of long-term disabled veterans in Veterans Administration hospitals and in state veterans’ homes. William Imsland, Buddy Poppy chairperson for the VFW asks all patriotic citizens to wear the Buddy Poppy as a symbol of freedom.”
“I urge all patriotic citizens to wear a Buddy Poppy as freedom is not free. Men and women of the armed forces risk their lives do defend our country,” Imsland was quoted as saying in the release.
As noted in the release, “the four flower petals of the poppy represent dedication, sacrifice, responsibility and compassion. The red of the poppy represents the blood that was shed in honor of our country. The black represents the mud and desolation on the battle field. The green of the stem and foliage represent the fields, forest and meadows where fellow Americans perished to make the United States free.”
All proceeds from distribution of the poppies are used to help care for disabled veterans and their families, the release stated.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Edwin Frohmader Post 1879 “Buddy Poppy” campaign chairperson William Imsland, from left, Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman and auxiliary chairperson Bruce Terland each hold poppies as a symbol of freedom. The three are encouraging area residents to participate in October in this year’s annual campaign. Proceeds are used to support disabled veterans and their families. Contributed photo.
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