October 13, 2023

VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay competition opens

By Ed Pierce

Windham’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 is pleased to offer the VFW Patriot's Pen and the Voice of Democracy essay competitions once again this year.

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 "How are you inspired by America?" and the topic for grades 9 to 12 is "What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?"

Goodman said that the Patriot's Pen essay competition is open to all middle school students from Windham and Raymond attending Windham Middle School, Jordan-Small Middle School, Windham Christian Academy, Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, and other public and private schools and home-schooled students, in grades 6 to 8. Students are invited to write a 300- to 400-word essay on this year's theme, "How are you inspired by America?”

He said that the Voice of Democracy competition is open to all high school students from Windham and Raymond, in 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 " What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?"

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 on the path for a national title 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. <

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