Avon-Canton VFW Post 3272 announces 2014 Poppy Drive

Annual event for veteran’s causes runs May 15 – 25, 2014

The Gildo T. Consolini VFW Post 3272, Avon, Connecticut announces its annual event that supports over 25 veteran charities and causes providing relief to current and past servicemen and woman in this state and region.  Their Annual Poppy Drive will be held at various locations in Avon and Canton from May 15 to 25, 2014. 

The familiar red paper poppy, normally worn in the lapel, is a symbol from WWI memorialized in a poem written in 1915 by John McCrae about Flanders Field, Belgium, where, in 1914, American soldiers were engaged in battle in the fields of poppies that grew there.  Historically, the VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, becoming the first veterans' organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Military veterans of the Avon-Canton Post will be distributing poppies at Walmart in Avon and Shop Rite in Canton during the 10-day event. While it is not required, donations are accepted. Last year, the Post raised over $21,000 which was distributed to many of the highest rated national and local veteran causes such as Homes for Heroes, Navy Seal Foundation, Our Military Kids, Veterans Home in Rocky Hill, CT, the Iwo Jima Memorial in New Britain, CT as well as sending relief packages to current military servicemen and women from the area.  As this mission is of highest importance to the members of the Avon-Canton Post, they do not keep any of the donations received during their annual Poppy Drive Event.

ALSO...Join us for a fundraiser at Flatbreads Restaurant located in the Shoppes at Farmington Valley, Canton on Tuesday, May 27 from 5pm–9pm. For every pizza purchased (eat in or take out) Flatbreads will donate $3.50 per large pizza and $1.75 per small pizza to the Avon-Canton VFW Post 3272 for their Buddy Poppy Drive collection. 100% of the money collected will be donated to local Veteran concerns. 

In order to make a private donation to the Annual Poppy Drive, checks can be made out and sent to: Avon-Canton VFW Post 3272, P.O. Box 297, Avon, CT 06001.