Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Ellis E. Woodrow Memorial Post 7883 | Westerville, Ohio
VFW Buddy Poppy's
Kroger The Old Bag of Nails Pub Roush Hardware
Maxtown Road | Sunbury Road 24 N. State St., Westerville, OH 609 S. State St., Westerville, OH
Since 1922, the Buddy Poppy has been an integral part of the VFW community. As VFW's official memorial flower, the Poppy represents the blood shed by American service members. It reiterates that VFW will not forget their sacrifices.
The Poppy movement was inspired by Canadian Army Col. John McCrae's famous poem, "In Flanders Fields". Poppies were originally distributed by the Franco-American Children's League to benefit children in the devastated areas of France and Belgium following World War I.
In 1922, the VFW conducted a campaign and received Poppies from France. Members soon discovered it took too long to get the flowers from France and they came up with a better idea: Disabled, hospitalized, and aging veterans could make the paper flowers and ship them out to the members for distribution. This practice remains in effect today, with veterans in VA hospitals and state veterans homes assembling VFW Buddy Poppy's and shipping them to VFW Posts around the world.
The VFW pays these veterans for their work of assembling Poppies. In most cases, this extra money provides additional income for the worker to pay for the little luxuries, which make hospital life more tolerable. All proceeds from the VFW's Poppy distribution are used for veterans welfare or the well being of their needy dependents, as well as the orphans of veterans. More than 2,100 children of veterans have been, or being cared for in the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, thanks to a portion of Poppy funds.
The VFW's Buddy Poppy program is truly all about veterans helping veterans and living up the VFW's motto of "Honoring the Dead by Helping the Living".
If you would like to make a donation to the Westerville VFW's Buddy Poppy program, please contact Ben Quinn at (614) 270-4115 or bquinnu2@hotmail.com
VFW Scholarship Programs
At the turn of the century, the founders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars created an organization that would honor and serve veterans and perpetuate the values and ideals for which those veterans served. Although men of vision, it is doubtful they could imagine the millions of Americans impacted today by the VFW's youth, scholarship and Recognition programs.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of students participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition and the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest, garnering more than $3.4 million in scholarships and incentives. The Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy are both endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
VFW Patriot's Pen Essay Contest
Patriot's Pen gives 6th, 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills, while they compete for worthwhile awards and prizes. Department (state) winners compete for $91,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds at the national level with the winner receiving a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond in Washington, D.C., in April of each year.
2008-2009 Patriot's Pen Theme: "Why America's Veterans Should Be Honored"
Congratulations to Kyle Huston, an 8th grade student at Genoa Middle School who won 1st place in the 2008 Westerville VFW's Patriot's Pen Essay Contest. Kyle took 2nd place honors at the District 11 competition on December 14th. This is the best finish our Post ever had at District for a Patriot's Pen entry. Well done, Kyle!
(Left to Right) Alan Briggs, Kyle Huston, Walt Malys, and Greg Wood
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition in 1946. The Veterans of Foreign Wars became a national sponsor in the late 1950's and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. Many notables have participated in the Voice of Democracy including journalist Charles Kuralt, Miss America Anita Bryant and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.
The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to write and record a broadcast script on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2.3 million in college scholarships and incentives. Department (state) winners are brought to Washington, D.C., in April to enjoy our nation's capital and compete for $148,000 in scholarships -- first place receiving a $30,000 scholarship.
2008-2009 Voice of Democracy Theme: "Service and Sacrifice by America's Veterans Benefit Today's Youth by..."
Congratulations to Ashley Brewster, an 11th grade home school student from Westerville for winning 5th Place at the VFW Department of Ohio Voice of Democracy (VOD) competition on January 24th! Ashley took home scholarships totaling $3,800! Well done, Ashley!
(Left to Right) Alan Briggs, Ashley Brewster, Walt Malys, and Greg Wood
To listen to Ashley's Voice of Democracy entry, please click on the "play button" in the media player below.
"Service and Sacrifice by America's Veterans Benefit Today's Youth by..."
by Ashley Brewster
Other VFW Programs
VFW's Citizenship Education program is designed to stimulate interest in America's history and traditions and to promote citizenship, civic responsibility and patriotism.
The VFW's partnership with the Boy Scouts of America includes the sponsoring of more than 1,200 Scouting units with 40,000 members across the nation. VFW Post 7883 is also involved locally with the Girl Scouts.
VFW's Safety Program encourages VFW Posts and Auxiliaries to conduct programs in home, auto and bicycle safety, as well as programs dealing with drug awareness and substance abuse.
The VFW National Home for Children is a community development in a family like environment that is home to orphaned or single parent children of VFW or Ladies Auxiliary members. The home, which was established in 1925 on 160 acres in Eaton Rapids, Mich., emphasizes the values of education, good work habits and sound moral character.
Whether providing scholarships to the nation's youth or helping veterans receive the entitlements they have earned, the VFW is there to honor the dead by helping the living.