VFW announces kickoff of annual scholarship competitions

Commander Willie Goodman of the Windham Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10643 has announced the kickoff for this year’s VFW Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy essay competitions. 

The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to middle school students including home schoolers, in grades sixth through eighth in the Windham area. Students are invited to write a 300-400 word essay on this year’s theme, “Why I honor the American flag.”

The Voice of Democracy competition is open to high school students, grades ninth through 12th, including those home schooled in the Windham area. Students are to write and record a three to five-minute essay, on an audio CD, regarding this year’s theme “Why My Vote Matters.”

Students have the opportunity to compete in these VFW annual essay competitions and win thousands of dollars in scholarships in either competition. The first-place state winner of both competitions receives a four-day trip to Washington, DC. The first-place national winner receives $5,000 for the Patriot’s Pen winning essay and the first-place winning essay nationally for the Voice of Democracy receives a $30,000 college scholarship.

Students begin by competing at the local Post level. Post winners advance to District. District winners compete in the State competition.

Deadline for student entries is October 31^st. Interested students and/or teachers should contact VFW Post 0643 by phone at 207-228-4329 or write to the post at P.O. Box 1776, Windham ME 04062.