We are pleased to announce that Buddy Poppy Layla will return as this year’s Buddy Poppy Child! Layla, now 13 years old, will return to the stage this week at the VFW’s National Convention.
Layla lives in the Illinois 2 house at the VFW National Home with her mother, Luisa, and four brothers: Izaiah, who is 17; Noah, who is 9; Jaxon, who is 7; and Potato, the German Shepherd, who will be 2 in October.
Layla will enter the 8th grade this Fall, and her favorite subject is math. Last year, she told us that she wanted to be an entrepreneur, but now she’s not sure what she wants to be. Luckily, she has plenty of time to figure it out!
Layla enjoys playing video games, creating art, playing the keyboard, and playing outside with her German Shepherd, Potato. If she had to pick a favorite, though, it would be playing the keyboard and mastering new songs with Ms. Rhonda, her piano instructor.
She loves that the Illinois 2 home is safe and beautiful and that the National Home’s program offers her family so many fun things to do. For instance, she enjoys playing basketball at the Community Center Gym and volunteering her time at the Home. This past year, she and her family have visited both Cedar Point and Michigan’s Adventure amusement parks. They’ve also enjoyed the state days and seeing Santa on a firetruck. Layla raised two pigs this year, Ham and Pork, for 4-H and showed them recently at the Eaton County Fair.
You may remember that last year, Layla’s pigs were named Hammy and Pork Chop, so she decided to stay with that theme this year! Layla was also selected to help raise Yum Yum, a campus pig that will be enjoyed at the end-of-summer party this year.
“I had the honor and privilege of being the Buddy Poppy Child for the VFW National Home last year, and I am thankful to have the chance to do it again this year,” says Layla.
“We wouldn’t have had this opportunity if it wasn’t for my mom and her military service. She served 9 years in the World’s Finest Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman. She deployed 4 times and loved serving her country. I am proud of my mom and of all the men and women who have given their lives, who have served, and who continue to fight to keep America safe.”
Thank you, Layla, for serving another year as our Buddy Poppy Child!
