The past two weekends the Niantic Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) held their annual Poppy Drive in East Lyme. This is our major fundraiser for the benefit of our Relief Fund.

The Relief Fund supports the funding of the Voice of Democracy and Patriots' Pen Scholarship programs, the Patriotic Art Contest at East Lyme High School, the VFW National Children's Home and for the temporary relief of service men and women in need when the safety nets provided by Department of Defense and the VA is inadequate, unresponsive or moves too slowly.

I would like to recognize the East Lyme Stop & Shop, Tri-Town and The Shack for letting us conduct our Poppy Drive at their locations. I commend all the VFW volunteers and most of all we appreciate the generosity of all our donors.