Student essay competition opens in Windham

By Ed Pierce

Windham’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 has announced the opening of this year's VFW Patriot's Pen and the Voice of Democracy essay competitions.

Students in grades 6 to 8 are encouraged to submit 
essays in the VFW's Patriot's Pen competition
by the deadline of Oct. 31. This year's theme is
'Why is the Veteran Important?' The VFW also is
conducting a 'Voice of Democracy contest for
students in grade 9 to 12. COURTESY PHOTO 

VFW Post 10643 Commander Willie Goodman said that any student in grades 6 to 12 who are interested in expressing themselves on this year's topics are encouraged to enter the VFW Scholarship Competition.

The topic for grades 6 to 8 is "My Pledge to Veterans" and the topic for grades 9 to 12 is "Why is the Veteran Important?"

Goodman said that the Patriot's Pen essay competition is open to all middle school students, including home schoolers, in grades 6 to 8. Students are invited to write a 300- to 400-word essay on this year's theme, "My Pledge to Veterans?

He said that the Voice of Democracy competition is open to all high school students, grades 9 to 12, including those who are home-schooled. Students are asked to write and record a 3- to 5-minute essay (on an audio CD) on this year's theme "Why is the Veteran Important?"

Students in the Windham area and surrounding towns are all welcome to participate and are given the opportunity to compete in these VFW annual essay competitions with a chance to win thousands of dollars in college scholarships in either competition.

The first-place VFW state winner in each competition receives a four-day trip to Washington, D.C.

The first-place winner nationally receives $5,000 for the Patriot's Pen winning essay and the first-place winning essay nationally for the Voice of Democracy receives a $35,000 college scholarship.

Students begin by competing at the local post level here in Windham. The Post 10643 winners then advance to compete at the district-level. District winners compete in the VFW’s annual state competition while trying to secure a berth in the national competition.

Each year, more than 68,800 students in grades 6 to 8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society.

Established in 1947, the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves about a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 25,000 students in grades 9 to 12 from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

The deadline for all student essay entries in Windham is Oct. 31.

Interested students and/or teachers with questions should contact VFW Post 10643 by phone at 207-228-4329. Entries may be submitted to VFW Post 10643 by mailing them to P.O. Box 1776, Windham, Maine 04062. <