Catholic War Veterans Coming to St. Jerome May 16 & 17

Why poppies?  In May 1915, on the battlefield of the Western Front, blood-red poppies bloomed.  Col. John McCrae was moved to pen his famous poem, In Flanders Fields.  The same year, Mrs. Moina Michael, inspired by McCrea’s poem, replied with a poem of her own:

We cherish, too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war.  She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.  Today, virtually all Veterans Service Organizations distribute poppies during the month of May.  Catholic War Veterans was founded in 1935 by Fr. Edward J. Higgins, a WWI army chaplain.  A local chapter, St. Vitus Post 1655 was chartered in 1949.  Fr. Bill Jerse was associate pastor of St. Vitus Church from 1987 until 1992.  During his tenure, he became involved with the St. Vitus Catholic War Veterans and was named one of their chaplains, a position that he has held ever since.  Fr. Bill has invited post members to distribute poppies at St. Jerome the weekend before the Memorial Day weekend.  They will accept free-will offerings.  Post members are easily identified by their hats and the powder blue blazers they wear.  Any Catholic who is an honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the military is eligible to join.  Please welcome the St. Vitus veterans and thank them for their service!  Know that they are very grateful for your support of the work of the post.  The donations received are used to benefit hospitalized and homeless veterans and widows and children of service members.