The recipient of a master’s degree in criminal justice from Curry College, Michael Rae is a former manager at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and most recently served as an outside plant technician at Verizon. A former US Coast Guard machinery technician and engineering supervisor, Michael Rae holds membership with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
A nonprofit veterans service organization, VFW operates under the mission of fostering camaraderie among US veterans who served in overseas conflicts, and advocating on behalf of those veterans in support of beneficial legislation. One of the many ways it supports veterans is through its Buddy Poppy program, which was established in 1923 and registered with the U.S. Patent Office the following year.
During the first year of operation, the Buddy Poppies were put together by veterans with disabilities, as well as those in dire financial situations. These individuals were compensated for their work. A factory was established in Pittsburgh the following year to assemble Buddy Poppies, while today they are put together by veterans at VA Hospitals nationwide. In addition to supporting individual veterans, the program benefits veterans’ rehabilitation programs at the state and national level. In addition, some of the funds generated from the program support the VFW National Home for Children.
Michael Rae 