Jeep Fest 2026: VFW 12239’s Buddy Poppy Drive
A small red flower carried a powerful message at JeepFest 2026: remember those who served, care for those who need us, and keep the promise of service alive. During the September 3–6 festival, Jasper’s SGT David S. Collins VFW Post 12239 c
SGT David S. Collins VFW Post 12239 · 2026-09-03
A small red flower carried a powerful message at JeepFest 2026: remember those who served, care for those who need us, and keep the promise of service alive.
During the September 3–6 festival, Jasper’s SGT David S. Collins VFW Post 12239 connected with neighbors and visitors through a Buddy Poppy Drive and community service outreach. Volunteers welcomed conversations about veterans, explained the meaning of the Buddy Poppy, and offered the familiar red flowers while accepting voluntary donations designated for the Post’s Relief Fund.
For the Post, JeepFest was an opportunity to bring its mission into the community—one conversation, one handshake, and one poppy at a time.
A tradition of remembrance that continues to serve
The VFW held its first nationwide poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922. In 1923, the organization decided that disabled and needy veterans would assemble its poppies and receive compensation for their work. The Buddy Poppy name was registered in 1924.
That history gives the little red flower its lasting significance. It honors the sacrifices of those who served while supporting the living. The broader VFW Buddy Poppy program helps sustain veterans’ assistance and service programs and the VFW National Home. Locally, donations received through the Post’s drive were designated for its Relief Fund, carrying that spirit of care into the work of helping veterans and families in need.
Sixty-nine hours of service
The Post’s reported volunteer effort totaled 69 hours across 16 volunteers. Those hours represent time given to public outreach, sharing the Buddy Poppy story, and making the VFW’s commitment to the community visible.
We are grateful to everyone who stopped to talk, accepted a poppy, offered a donation, or took a moment to remember a veteran. We also thank the volunteers whose time and presence made this outreach possible.
At Jasper VFW Post 12239, service continues beyond the uniform. At JeepFest, that commitment took the form of a red poppy, a welcoming conversation, and a shared determination to stand beside our veterans and neighbors.
Sources: Official JeepFest schedule — https://www.sheriffsjeepfest.com/frequentlyaskedquestions VFW Buddy Poppy history — https://www.vfw.org/community/community-initiatives/buddy-poppy