For the veterans
Posted on May 26, 2014 by Sonoma Valley Sun
Jan and Jim Arensmeier hand out “Buddy Poppies” at Safeway, part of an annual fundraising drive for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Bear Flag Post 1943. The poppy is the official memorial flower of the VFW, which calls the its fundraising flowers ‘Buddy Poppies.”
The national campaign distributes about 14 million of the poppies while raising $15 million. Locally, the goal was $6,000, according to Post Commander Dan Parker, with all donations directly benefitting disabled and needy veterans and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans. The Sonoma post has helped more than 30 families over the past year, and Parker said the need is increasing as young veterans return from duty overseas.
Photo by Jonathan Farrell
