By Ed Pierce
Two popular student essay and audio contests are back and looking for local participants except this year there’s a new twist to the competition. |
| Windham VFW Post 10643 is sponsoring the Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy essay competitions once again for students in grades 6 to 12. The deadline to submit an entry this year is Oct. 31. COURTESY IMAGE |
VFW Post 10643 Commander Jeff Cook says that any students in grades 6 to 12, including those who are home-schooled, are eligible to enter and express themselves on this year's topics for the Patriot’s Pen or Voice of Democracy contests with cash prizes and scholarships given to the winners.
The Patriot’s Pen topic for student essays and Voice of Democracy audio recordings is “How are you showing patriotism and support of our country?”
Cook is the new commander of VFW Post 10643 and assumed leadership duties this past summer.
“I feel it’s extremely important for young people to be involved in creative writing and the chances to express patriotism through writing can be very fulfilling,” he said. “As the new commander of the post taking over for Willie Goodman has not been easy. He was an icon to the town, and everyone knows the big smile and his infectious attitude to help make the community know about all veterans and want to help.”
According to Cook, these contests are one of the top items that the VFW works on each year.
“The membership always looks forward to sitting around the table listening and reading entries and judging,” Cook said. “Windham has done very well over the years with most winners coming from Windham Christian Academy. I would like to see a wider range of contestants from more schools. I don't understand sometimes why there can be a struggle to get every school involved. Why couldn't there be extra credit for students who enter?”
Serving as the Post 10643 Commander means a lot to Cook and he says it helps him be involved with the community in his own way.
“As a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan, I still continue to serve for our local veterans,” he said. “Getting young people to research and learn about past wars and the service and sacrifices made hopefully could change a young person’s life to have an impact upon their community or if they choose to serve in the military.”
Last year more than 60,000 students participated in these VFW contests nationwide. Local winners advance to district and if successful there, go on to state-level and national competition. The first-place VFW state winner for Maine in each competition receives a four-day trip to Washington, D.C.
Students participating in the Patriot’s Pen contest must submit a 300- to 400-word essay about this year’s topic. The National Patriot’s Pen Prize is $5,000 and local winners also will receive cash prizes and gifts from Post 10643. Voice of Democracy contest participants must submit a 3- to 5-minute audio recording about this year’s topic. The National Voice of Democracy Prize is $35,000 and local winners also will receive cash prizes and gifts from Post 10643.
The VFW established the Patriot's Pen program in 1995 to foster good citizenship and patriotism in young people. In 1947, the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay was created to provide high school students with a special opportunity to express themselves in a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.
For complete details and to enter the Patriot’s Pen contest, go to bit.ly/3MiZI54 and for details and to enter the Voice of Democracy contest, go to bit.ly/3MgcRf2
The deadline for all student essay entries in Windham this year is Oct. 31, Cook said.
Local winners will be announced during the annual Veterans Day Observance hosted by VFW Post 10643 at the Windham Veterans Center on Tuesday, Nov. 11. <
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