VFW will be out with Buddy Poppies at Fred Meyer and Central Market

VFW Post 3348 will be at three stores with Buddy Poppies

By Carl Christophersen, Commander
Blackburn-Aurora VFW Post 3348

VFW Post 3348 members will be out, with red Buddy Poppies in hand, on Friday and Saturday, November 11th and 12th from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

They will be at three locations:

1. Central Market in Aurora Square, 15505 Westminster Way N, Shoreline 98133
2. Fred Meyer on Aurora Ave N and N 185th St, Shoreline 98133
3. Lake City Fred Meyer, 13000 Lake City Way NE, Seattle 98125

Blackburn Aurora VFW Post 3348 holds Buddy Poppy events twice a year --- two days each time --- the Friday and Saturday on, or before, Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Roscoe Mitchell sells poppies in 2013 in Shoreline
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

What is the VFW?

Once in a while, I am asked what does VFW stand for? Simply it means “Veterans of Foreign Wars” (of the United States).

To be more complete, it means that a member of the VFW is part of an organization where one of the requirements for membership is that they were in combat, i.e. they served militarily for the U.S. in an area, at a time when others were there who had the means and intent to kill them, and who were executing those means with said intent.

VFW members were at one time shot at by an enemy who intended, at minimum, to harm them; and in some cases succeeded.

A component of PTSD is that the affected person was in combat. S/he experienced something horrid, beyond possible physical damage --- causing negative, severe and traumatic mental effects. I would submit that a majority of PTSD cases, were in combat.

Our Buddy Poppy drives --- accept donations --- which fund our own donations. We of the VFW Post 3348 donate to a variety of organizations who assist veterans in need --- all veterans --- regardless if they belong to any veterans organization.