Veterans from VFW Post 965 John Mcginty, Terry Mai, Walt
Scolari, Roland Schmit wait with Gene Schuyler from American
Legion Post 36 for the bus carrying National Guard troops from
the North Bend Armory.

Local VFW and the American Legion collaborated to  rally the fire and police department and citizens of Coquille  to give the National Guard from North Bend Armory a  rousing send off. The troops who are being deployed to  Iraq, were on their way to Medford. Also represented at the  rally were Bikers for Christ, South Coast Cruisers, Point  Man Ministries and Vietnam Veterans.

Local VFW, Post 965 commander, Jim Galten wants to  remind folks about the upcoming Buddy Poppy Campaign  which is held in conjunction with Armed Forces Day, May  16 and Memorial Day, May 25. The Poppy is the official  memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the  United States. The red color of the Poppy represents the  blood of fallen soldiers, as depicted in a poem written by  Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) of the  Canadian Army. VFW Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled  and needy veterans in VA Hospitals.