April 18, 2016 - The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Headquarters has just released the themes for their youth essay programs, Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy.
The Patriot’s Pen program gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. For 2016 - 17 this theme is “The America I Believe In”. This year more than 120,000 students participated nationwide with the national winner receiving $5,000. The competition is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools. Home-schooled students are also eligible. The essay must be 300-400 typewritten words and the student must write their own essay.
Since 1947 the Voice of Democracy has been the VFW’s premier scholarship program. Each year, almost 40,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, My Responsibility To America. It is open to all students in grades 9 – 12 who are enrolled in public, private or parochial schools. Home-schooled students are also eligible. The essay must be between 3 – 5 minutes.
Competition begins at the VFW post level and are due by November 1, 2016. Schools will be contacted with entry forms at the beginning of the 2016 – 17 school year. If you would all the information and a head start over the summer go to www.vfw.org/youth to download the entry form. Questions call post quartermaster Larry Hume at 598-2976.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Youth Essay Program for 2016-17
