Since 1922, the Buddy Poppy has been an integral part of the VFW community. As the VFW’s official memorial flower, the poppy represents the blood shed by American service members. It reiterates that the VFW will not forget their sacrifices. The poppy movement was inspired by Canadian Army Col. John McCrae’s famous poem, "In Flanders Fields.” Poppies were originally distributed by the Franco-American Children’s League to benefit children in the devastated areas of France and Belgium following World War I. Today, disabled veterans assemble poppies and the VFW pays them for their work. In most cases, this extra money provides additional income for the worker to pay for the little luxuries that make hospital life more tolerable. Another reason poppies are so important is because all proceeds from distribution are used for veterans welfare or for the well-being of their needy dependents and the orphans of veterans. More than 1,300 children of veterans have been, or are being cared for in the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, thanks to a portion of poppy funds.