Local groups support VFW with annual poppy drive
The Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 10 and the Easy Riders 4-H Club worked together to raise $550 for the local VFW by taking donations for the annual Veteran’s Poppy Drive. Pictured (from left) in the front row are Silver Goldade, Rory Kromer, Kenna Stanley, Charlee Draeger and Jaden House. Back row: Chris Marker, VFW Master Post 1675; and Leslee
Stanley, Worthy Matron Shoshone Chapter 10 Order of Eastern Star and Leader of the Easy Rider 4-H club.
Courtesy photo
PINEHURST — It’s a beautiful thing when local organizations band together to help each other out.
Chapter 10 of The Order of the Eastern Star and the Easy Riders 4-H Club recently worked together to raise $550 for the local Osburn VFW Post 1675 by taking donations for the annual Veteran’s Poppy Drive.
The annual poppy drive comes from the World War I poem 'In Flanders Fields' where the opening line discusses how poppies are the first flowers to grow from the soil on soldiers’ graves.
“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…”
The National American Legion adopted these poppies as its official symbol of remembrance in 1920.
Donation sites were set up on both the east and west ends of the Silver Valley including at Barney’s Harvest Foods in Pinehurst and Stein’s IGA in Osburn.
“The poppy drive was not only a great community service project to support our local veterans, but an educational experience,” said Leslee Stanley, a member of both Order of the Eastern Star and Easy Riders.
The Order of Eastern Star is the largest Fraternal Organization in the world to which both women and men belong. They describe themselves as a service organization fellowship with numerous fun activities for all members and their family and friends. They also support Cancer and Heart Research, provide college and university scholarships to the three Shoshone County school districts, and maintain a benevolent fund for the relief of qualified indigent and distressed members. Each chapter may choose to support local projects or charities in their community.
This year, Worthy Matron Leslee Stanley has chosen veterans as her special project.
Anyone interested in joining the Order of Eastern Star may contact the Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Idaho: Kathy Rigoli, 1260 E. Stetson Ave., Post Falls, ID 83854 (idoesgskar@gmail.com).
4-H is America’s largest youth development organization — developing nearly six million young people who are empowered, confident, hardworking, determined, responsible and compassionate — see a world beyond themselves so they have the lifelong skills to succeed in college and career.
For more information and to find a club near you, contact the extension office at 208-292-2525.