The little extra pop of color you see on the Benton square Friday and Saturday will be poppies provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as part of a decades-long fundraiser.
Post #2671 will be on the square and at Wal-Mart with the small flowers known as buddy poppies. They will ask for donations it uses to care for local veterans in a number of ways, whether it's help with rent and bills or other unexpected expenses.
"That happens more than you would think," post Commander John Metzger said.
He says the buddy poppies are a "major fundraiser for the post" that can bring in as much as $4,000.
The tradition dates back to the 1920s, following World War I.
Disabled veterans get compensated for assembling the poppies, and then the posts use them to seek donations. More than 18 million are are assembled each year.
Metzger said VFW members will be at each entrance to the Benton square.
In addition, the Auxiliary will seek donations for "poppy plates" at area businesses.
"You can't find a better cause than that," Metzger said.
