National Youth Scholarships

Nearly ten centuries ago the Maltese Cross was made the symbol of fighting men who were united by a solemn pledge of comradeship to fight for freedom and to aid the sick and the needy.  Those ancient obligations are still symbolized by the Cross of Malta today, for the more than two million former servicemen and women who are the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  The Cross of Malta is the symbol of their battles in time of war and of their campaign to defend the God given rights of human beings in time of peace.  The Cross of Malta symbolizes the compassion, or sympathy, of those men and women for the needy.
To appreciate fully the original meaning of the Cross of Malta we must look back to the Crusaders serving in the Middle East. There we find the Knights of Saint John, the world’s first great brotherhood of warriors pledged to chivalry.  The Knights of Saint John represented all walks of life.  They were noblemen and priests, artisans and laborers.  Regardless of those differences, however, they were united by a solemn pledge of unwavering courage and compassion.  Together they fought against oppression.  They carried their crusades far from home across deserts and seas, into the Holy Land, Cyprus, Rhodes and Malta.  At the same time they administered to the sick, the needy and to the poor.  The Crusaders adopted the Cross of Malta as their insignia because its eight points represented the eight Beatitudes prescribed in the Sermon on the Mount.  Those, in effect, declare  (1) blessed are the poor in spirit, 
(2) the meek, 
(3) the pure, 
(4) the merciful, and 
(5) the peacemakers, 
(6) blessed are they that mourn, and 
(7) seek righteousness, and 
(8) blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake.The Cross of Malta had a religious origin but the Knights of Saint John also made it their battle standard for the liberation of all men, women and children who suffered oppression.  The ideals for which the original Crusaders fought parallel the principles of democracy today, freedom and justice.Centuries passed to the year 1899. Again fighting men banded together.  Again they pledged themselves to campaign for the rights of mankind and to administer to the sick, the needy and to the poor.  That was the birth of a new organization, known today as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Why did the Veterans of Foreign Wars select the Cross of Malta emblem? What has been added to the Cross and what does the symbol mean?  Let us look at the VFW ensign closely.  We see the eight-pointed Maltese Cross. Upon the Cross is superimposed the Great Seal of the United States, encircled by the name, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.  Within the circle is the American eagle, the emblem of a proud nation whose warriors of many generations have fought and sacrificed to preserve the free man’s way of living.  Between the four arms of the Cross, the Veterans of Foreign Wars has added the sun’s rays to emphasize the vigor and warmth with which the present day brotherhood defends our ideals.  Every detail in the VFW emblem has definite meaning.  The Cross, the rays and the seal together symbolize the vows, purpose and character of men and women who have traveled far from home to defend humanity.The Veterans of Foreign Wars is the world’s oldest and largest overseas war veteran’s organization. It is chartered by the Congress of the United States.  That charter states specifically that the objects of the VFW shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational; that its members shall preserve and strengthen comradeship; that they shall maintain allegiance to the government of the United States and fidelity to its laws; that VFW members shall foster true patriotism, extend American freedom and defend this nation from all enemies.Upon joining the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a person vows in the presence of Almighty God and the members of this order to maintain loyalty to the government, to the VFW, and to his or her fellow comrades.  When the Cross of Malta is bestowed upon a new VFW member, he or she is pledged to advance the principles of the organization.  Like the original Crusaders 1,000 years ago, the two million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars today fulfill their vows through a wide variety of vigorously executed services.  The VFW is also joined by 750,000 members of our Ladies Auxiliary in our efforts.  They foster true patriotism, and strengthen the institutions of freedom by word and deed.  They improve their cities, towns and neighborhoods through community service.  They give aid to worthy comrades and to the widows and orphans.  They extend helping hands to the needy and the sick.  Like the original Knights of St. John, those who wear the VFW Maltese Cross express their comradeship in terms of service.These are the reasons why the Veterans of Foreign Wars chose the Cross of Malta as its emblem.  The Cross of Malta symbolizes truly the character and objectives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.  People qualified through military service to wear the VFW Cross of Malta do so with pride because that emblem represents the highest of ideals.   Every member has earned the Cross of Malta proudly and he or she wears it proudly.

 Before Memorial Day in 1922, we conducted our first poppy distribution, 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, as it remains today. 

During our 1923 encampment, we decided that VFW "Buddy"® Poppies would be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who would be paid for their work to provide them with financial assistance. The next year, disabled veterans at the Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh assembled VFW Buddy Poppies. The designation "Buddy Poppy" was adopted at that time.

In February 1924, we registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting our organization all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. We've made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name Buddy Poppy.

Today, our Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals. 

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.

Hear from those who assemble the mighty little flowers in "The Veterans Behind the Buddy Poppy" video.  

  In Flanders fields the poppies blow 
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly 
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago 
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie 
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: 
To you, from failing hands we throw 
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die 
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders fields. 

 by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
for more of Mr Vaincourt’s original work go to
www.vaincourt.homestead.com
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today.He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won’t note his passing, though a soldier died today.When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?A politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.It’s so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.© 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt
Posted here with Mr. Vaincourt’s permission.