Local VFW Post holding flag raising ceremony on Friday, collecting donations for veterans on Saturday

Owen Sexton, The Chronicle, Centralia, Wash.
·2 min read

Nov. 8—With Veterans Day approaching this Saturday, Nov. 11, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2200 will be holding a flag-raising ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10, and a fundraising drive Saturday to support local veterans, according to Robert Hangartner, senior vice commander of Post 2200.

The flag-raising ceremony will commence at 1 p.m. on Friday in front of the Sharon Care Center, located in Centralia at 1509 Harrison Ave.

"It'll be for all the veterans there," Hangartner said.

Then, on Veterans Day, VFW members will be out in front of both the Safeway in Centralia, located at 1129 Harrison Ave., and the Safeway in Chehalis, located at 1100 S. Market Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We'll be handing out 'Buddy' Poppies. We don't sell them, we just hand them out and people can give a donation, whatever they want," Hangartner said.

All donations go to help local veterans.

The VFW conducted the first nationwide artificial poppy flower distribution by a veterans organization in 1922, and soon after the poppy was adopted as the official memorial flower of the VFW, according to the organization's website.

In 1923, the VFW decided that "Buddy" Poppies would be assembled by veterans in need and disabled veterans who were paid for their work. Then, in 1924, "Buddy" Poppy was registered and trademarked by the VFW.

The "Buddy" Poppy program still exists today and provides veterans who assemble the flowers with financial assistance and access to veterans' rehabilitation programs and services.

Despite being listed as the Chehalis post, Hangartner explained VFW Post 2200 actually meets at the American Legion's Grant Hodge Post 17, located at 111 W. Main St. in Centralia. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Hangartner at hangartnerrobert16@gmail.com.