Selling poppies is ‘an honor’ for Vera Wilson

By DEB BENTLY

Staff Writer

Vera Wilson moved to New Richland with her husband Robert in 1972; that May was the first time she joined the local American Legion’s efforts selling Memorial Day poppies.

Since then, she shares, “I haven’t missed a year.”

Even at age 90, Vera is already out selling Memorial Day poppies in New Richland again this year. Rather than a burden, she says the task is “an honor” because it is in memory of all who have served in the military, and especially of those who have died–either during their service or later, as veterans.

She admits she also looks forward to the camaraderie and connection her long-standing volunteer work has built with community members. “It’s nice to see everyone and talk with them,” she comments.

Vera observes that fewer and fewer people seem to be acquainted with the poppies, or why they are sold in May.

Gretchen Supalla, head of the New Richland Auxiliary’s poppy drive, has the same impression. “Many people think of it as a holiday or a day off,” she comments regarding Memorial Day. “They’re losing the significance of honoring those who have sacrificed and even died for the sake of our freedom.”

Money donated in exchange for the small, paper flowers called “poppies” is used by veteran organizations to support wounded veterans and their families, or for purposes of education.

“I have people who ask me the price,” says Vera. “I tell them it’s whatever they’re willing to give.”

Donors who wear the poppy on their hat, in a buttonhole or on a purse strap are sending the message they support the cause. Vera thinks of her husband Robert, called Bob by nearly everyone. He served in the Korean War beginning in 1951. Vera met him because he was friends with some of her cousins who lived in the Mankato area, and was spending time with them while on leave shortly before being discharged in 1955.

The two married later that year. They lived in Waseca for well over a decade; Bob operated his own plumbing business, and when she wasn’t a full-time mother to their three children–Susie, Jim and Rosie–Vera worked at Brown Printing.

Bob was a lifelong member at the Waseca V.F.W., and changed his American Legion membership from Waseca to New Richland when they relocated southward.

Vera remembers Bob would frequently acquire a small collection of poppies. When she would suggest he might wear one of them to show he had already made a donation, he would respond, “Oh, I’ll just get another one.”

Vera says she looks forward to poppy sales every spring. Chauffeured by her daughter Susie Wigham, she describes visiting various places in town including Casey’s, Dollar General, and others. 

She notes that jars of poppies are on display near the check-outs of a number of community stores, “but people often don’t notice those unless someone calls attention to them.” After asking permission to be present, she greets people and invites them to donate in exchange for the small red flowers. “Most people give a dollar,” she observes, “but a fair number give more. 

“Some people who seem to connect to the cause will give $20.”

The gradual change from carrying cash to carrying cards has complicated poppy sales somewhat, she mentions, since fewer and fewer people have money. “The ones who really want to donate, they find a way,” she says. One is to make a purchase and get some cash back.

“Sometimes the wife will come first and she’ll want to get a poppy,” describes Vera, “and she’ll realize she doesn’t have cash. Then she’ll say, ‘But wait just a minute, my husband is coming. We’ll get some from him.’”

Vera says most of her time selling poppies has traditionally been spent at New Richland Liquor, where she describes the clientele as being very supportive.

“There are folks up there, they tell everyone who walks in the door, ‘Buy a poppy from her!’” Vera describes lightheartedly. She says it’s especially easy to tell when there is a contingent of veterans in the crowd. “They support the cause, and they want to help.”

She notes she frequently finds homes for about 100 poppies in the time before Memorial Day. She describes one occasion when all her poppies had been claimed and she and her daughter were approached by yet another supporter.

“We sold them our poppies,” remembers Vera. “We were glad to; we knew where we could get another one.”