September 4, 2017 - This centennial year of World War I, Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Auxiliary are on a quest to account for all veterans from this county who served; or who served and are not originally from here but are now buried in the county. To date we have 781 names and adding more almost each day.
The red “Buddy Poppy” is the official flower of the VFW and represents the blood shed by Americans in all wars. The poppy flower is used universally around the world to represent the same for their countrymen and women. As WW I in Europe began in 1914 there have already been many observances and celebrations in other countries. The United States entered the war in April 1917 so we have just passed the 100-year mark. One thing all countries have in common is the date of the armistice, November 11, 1918 now known in the United States as Veterans Day.
VFW Post 8904 and the Auxiliary are planning a community wide celebration on Veterans Day, 2018 which we hope will be embraced by all citizens in our county. One of the things we hope to accomplish by then with your help is the gathering of enough knitted and crocheted poppies to represent all the names we will collect over the next year. Finished poppies should be about 5” across. Use any combination of yarn and needles desired to achieve this. Most patterns call for red yarn with a black or green center. Also, poppies may be made with all red yarn and a button, or other embellishment attached in the center. With these we hope to make a display at the Historic Courthouse like (although not as many) the Tower of London. Donations of red, green and black yarn will also be accepted and can be dropped off at Chief Imaging, 614 Tenaha Street, Center as can finished poppies.
Patterns and instructions can be found at:
- https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fzu8y2bm0l3owcp/AACMBEOxZWlesC7nqP7VabZUa?dl=0
- Additional patterns at https://www.happilyhooked.com/6-free-poppy-patterns/
- You can also Search google.com or pinterest.com for "free poppy pattern"
All interested citizens are invited to attend a planning meeting, Thursday, September 7, 2017, noon to 3 p.m. at the VFW Post Home, 617 Highway 96N. Questions please call Theresa Hume, Auxiliary Treasurer at 598-2976 or email nerd759@gmail.com.
