As Commander of the VFW, I want to thank the very gracious citizens of Mercer Island. As is tradition with our local VFW, our veterans sell poppies during Memorial Day weekend. The poppies we sell are assembled by disabled veterans in state Veterans Homes. Poppies were first immortalized in a 1915 poem by Col. John McCrae, in Flanders Fields, in which Col. McCrae presented the striking image of the bright red flowers blooming among the rows of white crosses.

The veterans selling poppies appreciate your generosity and infinitely value the kind words of support and encouragement for deeds long past.

Bob Brahm