This weekend when we went to the grocery store the VFW was selling poppies outside the exit. I have a soft spot in my heart for veterans selling poppies. I can't pass them up. As I slipped my money in the canister and reached out to receive my poppy I saw myself sitting outside the Grand Union supermarket in Hyde Park, New York when I was a child, helping my grandfather (who we called Poppy) sell poppies. 

Poppy fought in World War II and loved every minute of it. He was very involved with his VFW and also marched in the local Veteran's Day parades. In fact, I think we watched the parade from that very same supermarket's parking lot. 

A few years ago on Veteran's Day I did a salute to my grandfather on the blog. I won't repost it here in its entirety, but follow this link to read it. If you missed it the first time I posted it back in 2009 I think you'll find it's worth reading. I have all his medals (including his Purple Heart) and a photo album with old war pics that my grandmother saved and I shared bits and pieces of that album in the post. There are even a couple of photos that put my grandfather somewhere in a crowd of soldiers with arrows written on the photo pointing to General Patton. And, actual postage stamps with Hitler's image on them. I hope you'll take the time to read it. Comments have been disabled on entries that old due to spammers, but you can always leave one under this entry if you so choose to do so.

I always buy poppies from the vets as well. It seems like such a small thing.

Fascinating post about your grandfather! I’m sure he didn’t really “love every minute” of the war, but it looks like he had quite the adventure. I vaguely remember those Hitler stamps, so maybe I saw that post before, but it was great to look through the photos! I imagine “Patton’s horse” was the Lippizzaner he rode during the procession—don’t you think? As opposed to a horse actually owned by Patton. But who knows.

Steve, he might not have loved every minute but you would never know by the way he talked about it. He loved being a soldier. Maybe you did see the post before but I didn’t think you were reading the blog back then. “Patton’s horse” will remain a mystery. I know he was involved with the Lippizzaners in the war but I doubt it was his personal horse too.

Thanks for the fine tribute to Poppy!

I haven’t seen any poppy sellers around here in a long time, but I always buy them, too.