VFW Pelican Post 1383
Klamath Falls, Oregon

515 Klamath Ave., Klamath Falls, OR 97601
(541) 882-0054
PROGRAMS

The good will of the Veterans of Foreign Wars reaches far beyond the realm of veterans helping veterans. In fact, direct involvement with America’s youth and communities has always been — and always will be — a VFW priority.
Voice of Democracy
Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2.2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.

Knowing that a democratic society needs nurturing, the VFW established the Voice of Democracy program (VOD) in 1947 to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regards to democratic ideas and principles.


Competition starts at the Post level, then moves on to the District Level, and Department Level before the first place winner moves on to the national competition. Winners at the Post, District, and Department levels will receive cash prizes.


The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. Other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each (State) VFW Department wins an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. 
Patriot's Pen

VFW believes strongly in good citizenship and fostering patriotism. That’s why we encourage youthful minds to examine our nation’s history and their own experiences in modern American society through our Patriot’s Pen youth essay-writing contest.


Competition starts at the Post level, then moves on to the District Level, and Department Level before the first place winner moves on to the national competition. Winners at the Post, District, and Department levels will receive cash prizes.


Annually, more than 100,000 students from grades 6-8 (nationwide) enter. One first-place winner from each state competes to win one of 46 national awards totaling $46,000. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March.

Students draft a 300-400 word essay, expressing their views based on an — always patriotic — annual theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
Buddy Poppy

The VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, 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.


It was during the 1923 encampment that the VFW decided that VFW Buddy Poppies be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who would be paid for their work to provide them with some form of financial assistance. The plan was formally adopted during the VFW's 1923 encampment. 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, the VFW registered the name "Buddy Poppy" with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting the VFW all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. The VFW has 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, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals. 


The minimal assessment (cost of Buddy Poppies) to VFW units 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 orphans and widows of our nation's veterans.


Buddy Poppies is not only a major fundraiser for Post 1383, but also provides a means to bring visibility to the VFW and all it stands for.

IN FLANDER'S FIELD

by John McCrae  

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.