Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor those who died in service to this our country.

In 1915, during World War I, Dr John McCrae visited a cemetery in Flanders, France. While there he noticed how the poppy flowers grew “between the crosses, row on row,” and was inspired to write the now famous poem “In Flanders Fields.”

Before Memorial Day 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars conducted its first poppy distribution and made its trademark guarantee: all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans.

The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs, and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children in Eaton Rapids.

Members of Newtown VFW will be set up at local locations to distribute poppies for the three weekends prior to Memorial Day. Members will be at Stop & Shop, 228 South Main Street; Carminuccio’s Pizza, 76 South Main Street; Dunkin Donuts, 6 Queen Street; and Bagel Delight, 30 Church Hill Road, among other locations. Donation received will go to support their intended purpose.

In addition, information will be available about a handicapped-accessible walkway being rebuilt at Post 308. Donations are also being sought for this project.

For each $25 donation, donors can have a “dog tag” engraved with a message or name of a loved one. The tags will be permanently affixed to the ramp when it is completed.