First, there’s Loyalty Day, then Buddy Poppy Day, and finally Memorial Day.

The first two observances remind everyone of the last. The arrival of spring also means the renewal of three opportunities to honor America’s veterans.

Loyalty Day is an almost-forgotten national holiday. Starting in the 1950s, Loyalty Day was established to counter the celebration of communism May 1. Earlier celebrations of Loyalty Day attracted thousands of supporters for freedom and democracy.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars still celebrates the holiday. This year the Minnesota VFW First District parade will be held in Cannon Falls, Minn., the home post of current VFW First District Commander Gary Rehder.

Austin Post 1216 will begin its own Loyalty Day celebration Tuesday, April 28. Post 1216 will be honoring World War II veterans with a half-price steak meal.  The public is encouraged to participate. The steak, smoked chop or shrimp dinner can be purchased for under $10 at the door. There will be time to talk to the vets as well as hear patriotic music.

Donations will be given to support the Honor Flight Program to give all WW II veterans the opportunity to visit the WW II Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Flag retirement ceremony

A flag retirement ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 at the Post.

Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 122 and Cub Scouts of America Pack No. 122 from the Austin Church of Jesus Christ-Latter Day Saints Church will be conducting the ceremony. Flags can be dropped of at the VFW.

World War II vets breakfast

On Sunday, May 3, a WW II breakfast will be served at the VFW and is open to the public. Serving begin at 8 a.m. and will go until noon.

The breakfast is an opportunity to thank WW II veterans by helping fund several who are traveling with the Honor Flight contingent to Washington, D.C. to see the WW II Veterans Memorial. Many of the veterans would never have the opportunity to travel to see the memorial without the public’s help.

Buddy Poppy Day, May 29

The opportunity to support veteran programs continues through May when Buddy Poppies will be distributed throughout the area.

Local businesses can support these programs by buying and displaying Poppy cards. Veterans and supporters will also be selling Buddy Poppies May 22 and 23.

Several local businesses will have award-winning displays made completely from poppies by local veteran Bob Minto and his wife, Tillie. The patriotic displays can be viewed at Community Bank, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Holiday Dodge, Holiday Ford and Anderson Memorials during April and May.

Recently, Cdr. Dennis Nelson joined VFW Auxiliary President Daphne Wagner and the Post’s Poppy Day chairman and Color Guard Officer of the Day, Mel Flicek, at the official Poppy Day proclamation-signing ceremony at Austin Municipal Building.

Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm, himself a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, signed the Buddy Poppy Day proclamation, which declared, in part, the purpose of the special observance is to “Honor the dead by helping the living.”

Proceeds from Buddy Poppy Day donations go to disabled veterans.