The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gildo T. Consolini Post 3272, will open its Annual Poppy Drive this year on May 17th in the communities of Avon and Canton. Local veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq will be distributing Buddy Poppies at the Avon Wal-Mart from May 17th through May 27th, Simsbury Stop and Shop from May 18th through May 20th, and Canton Shop-Rite from May 24th through May 26th. The following are some facts about which many people may be unaware:
- The need to support veterans this year is greater than ever as the number of severely wounded veterans and returning veterans without jobs has overwhelmed virtually all veteran programs.
- All funds (100%) collected go directly to benefit veterans.
- There is no other cause that you can donate to that distributes a greater percentage of its funds to veterans than the annual Poppy Drive.
- Due to a shortage of volunteers to help assemble poppies this year, the members of the Gildo T. Consolini Post 3272 volunteered & assembled over 10,000 poppies for the Poppy Drive.
- Last year, the VFW raised $19,000 during 10 days in May from public donations in this community and distributed $19,000 to the veteran charities listed below.
- The veteran charities which were contributed to last year included: Blinded Veterans Association (Avon-founded in 1945), Give-To-The-Troops (care packages), Soldiers’ Angels (care packages), USO (service centers), Operation Uplink (phone cards), Fisher House (free housing for families of wounded soldiers), Unmet Needs (family assistance for deployed soldiers), Rocky Hill Veterans Home (Christmas gifts & care packages), VFW National Home – CT House (widows & orphans), Operation Stand-Down (benefits for homeless vets), Post Care Packages (Connecticut-deployed veterans), Wounded Warrior Projects (initiatives for severely-wounded vets), Army Emergency Relief Fund, Air Force Aid Society, Navy/USMC Relief Fund; CT National Guard Fund, CCSU Veterans Fund, 43rd Div Memorial Fund, Veteran Grave Markers (local cemeteries), Funeral Wreaths (deceased veterans), Memorial Donations (deceased veterans), and Fruit Baskets (hospitalized veterans).
Remember 100% of your money goes to the veterans, unlike some so-called veterans groups, we are Avon and Canton's own.
The poem and the story behind the poppy can be found here: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm
Take this opportunity to share your thanks and appreciation to members of our local VFW post for what they and others like them have sacrificed for all of us.
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me at grant_vfw.yahoo.com
