As Veterans Day approaches the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and its ladies auxiliary has begun its annual Buddy Poppy Drive.

The drive, auxiliary member Patsy Stone said, usually takes place on the Saturday closest to Veterans Day, which falls on Nov. 6 this year.

“Several businesses around Selma allow members of the ladies auxiliary to, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and members of the JRROTC from Southside High School to gather at their locations to distribute the Buddy Poppies,” she said. “We simply ask for any donation that the people of Selma and surrounding counties can make.”

The Buddy Poppy, Stone said, is the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Today, she said, Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled and needy veterans in V.A. hospitals. The red silk of the flower represents the blood shed in defense of freedom for the nation. The donations received are put into a relief fund that is used to help veterans and their families.

Last year, the Selma post raised $1,250.

Stone said there are 15,000 that will be available at Walmart, the Raceway gas station, Selma Curb Market and Winn Dixie on Highland Avenue.’

The flowers will also be available Nov. 11 at the veterans’ service at Memorial Stadium.