The Peabody Orlando Honors Soldiers During Memorial Day Weekend
Hotel to Wear and Distribute 1,000 Poppies to Honor Veterans
Orlando, FL - May 26, 2011 - This Memorial Day, The Peabody Orlando will honor the nation's heroes by participating in the Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Buddy Poppy program. From Friday, May 27 to Monday, May 30, the hotel's front line staff will wear poppies to honor those who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. In addition, guests who'd like to show their support can receive a poppy during these dates when they dine at any of The Peabody Orlando's dining locations.
Through a donation, The Peabody Orlando received 1000 poppies for distribution for the occasion. Funds raised by the VFW through the sale of the poppies benefit disabled and needy veterans and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans.
According to the VFW, as the organization's official memorial flower, the poppy represents the blood shed by American service members. The VFW states that the poppy movement was inspired by Canadian Army Col. John McCrae's famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.” Poppies were originally distributed by the Franco-American Children's League to benefit children in the devastated areas of France and Belgium following WWI. The VFW began the Buddy Poppy program in 1922 and today, disabled, hospitalized and aging veterans make paper poppies that are distributed and sold to raise funds.
“We feel it is our duty to recognize and honor those that have served our country in any way that we can,” said Alan Villaverde, managing director of The Peabody Orlando and president of Peabody Hotels Division. “Our staff will wear the poppies with pride and we are hopeful that our guests will join us in honoring our country's many heroes.”
About The Peabody Orlando:
The Peabody Orlando, opened in November 1986, is a staple in the Orlando-area convention and tourism industry and famous for its Peabody Ducks. The hotel has received the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Four Star rating for 22 consecutive years. Located directly across from and adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center and in the heart of the International Drive entertainment district, The Peabody Orlando currently offers 1,641 ultra-luxurious guestrooms, 300,000 total square feet of state-of-the-art, flexible function space, a 22,000-square-foot, full-service spa, salon and fitness center and ten delectable dining and entertainment options. Peabody Hotels, comprising The Peabody Orlando, The Peabody Memphis and The Peabody Little Rock (all Forbes Travel Guide Four Star rated hotels) is a division within the portfolio Peabody Hotel Group of Memphis, Tennessee. To learn more, please visit www.PeabodyOrlando.com, connect on Facebook or follow on Twitter.
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