Forget Me Not

According to history, during the reign of King Edward, a young man and

his lady were strolling on the margin of a lake. They discovered some

flowers some distance from the lake’s inner bank. In the true spirit of

chivalry, the lad swam to the off shore island and plucked the flowers

for the lady. As he was returning, feeling that he could not reach the

shore, he cast a last affectionate look toward the lady, threw the flowers

and said, “Forget – Me – Not.”

It is our “Forget – Me – Not” sale that says to everyone throughout the year

“Remember Me.” When we pass the flowers to eager hands upon the street

we are saying, “Remember and Forget me not,

I am a Disabled American Veteran.”

HISTORY OF FORGET – ME – NOT LUNCHEONS

In 1921 a luncheon was held in the home of Adelaide Irwin’s apartment to plan the
first National Convention, which had been deemed necessary by the parent
organization. Adelaide was a “war time necessitated transplant from New York
City” whose family resided in the elite type, in those days, a three – story
brownstone flat. By the time the convention was held in El Paso in 1927 members
had learned that some officers and a “select” group of members had lunch
together during each convention for comradeship and politics.

This terminology derived from the DAV calling one another “Comrade.” The
current officers were not the least bit receptive to a change in this format,
since it permitted the little “click” getting together. The delegates voted to adopt
the official flower, Forget – Me – Not, after which, a delegate was successful with
a motion to have a luncheon for those who wished to attend. The motion carried.
Following this decision, it was to be known as the Forget – Me – Not Luncheon,
regardless of the size of the attendance.

As recalled by: Catherine Early, PNC – 1988