patriot's pen essay my pledge to our veterans

PATRIOT PEN

2022-2023 "PATRIOT’S PEN” ESSAY Program

"My Pledge to Our Veterans"

All information pertaining to the theme, judging, eligibility, awards, and other aspects of this program are contained in the Veterans of Foreign Wars program booklet for the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program.  District Chairmen are responsible to ensure that their District programs are conducted within these rules and deadlines.   Make sure that you distribute copies of your program to all Posts in your District in enough time to ensure a successful competition.

The Patriot’s Pen Essay Program is a joint program with the VFW Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Michigan.  The Auxiliary does not need the permission of a Post to participate in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program.  Post and District Chairmen are expected to include their VFW Auxiliary counterparts in all activities concerning the conduct of local and District programs. Coordination of the District program is the sole responsibility of each District Chairman. Post Chairmen must refer to their District program for their District program requirements and deadline dates.  

  Judging the Contest

The suggested number of judges is five to nine (or a minimum of three).  Judges should be from outside your Posts/Auxiliaries and should represent your community.  Judges must not be connected in any way with the students in the competition.  Set the date for your judging and invite the judges at least 90 days in advance.  Remind them a week before the competition with a letter or email, and two days before with a phone call.

Eligibility

Sixth (6th), Seventh (7th) and Eighth (8th) grade students in public, private, parochial, and home schools in the State of Michigan.  Former first place winners at the State and National level competition or any foreign exchange student are not eligible.  Students do not have to be relatives of a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or its VFW Auxiliary to participate.  

Essays must be typed, or computer printed in English, between 300-400 words, on a single sheet of paper, with no added color or art.            

Posts 

To receive credit for participation in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program, a Post MUST  SPONSOR THE PROGRAM IN THEIR COMMUNITY.  While it is important to offer the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program in our schools, it is not solely a program for the schools.  You may offer the competition to any sixth, seventh or eighth grade student.  Foreign exchange students are not eligible.  All entries MUST be submitted directly to the Post.  They may be sponsored through local schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church youth groups, Junior ROTC programs, etc.  The Post is encouraged to solicit participants from as many sources as possible.  

The Post will hold their own judging and may submit to District the number of students permitted by the following breakdown.  

• 1-15 student participants = 1 top Post entry is allowed to advance to District
• 16-30 student participants = 2 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District
• 31-45 student participants = 3 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District Etc.

 (Note: No Limit)

Posts may advance as many winners as they select based on the total number of students participating.  Post judging is the responsibility of the Post Chairman and must be conducted in accordance with the National Judging Criteria.   

The Post may forward each 1st place winning entry to District.  Each student entry submitted by a Post to District must be an equal 1st place winner.  This means each Post student entry sent to District must receive the same award.  For example, a Post has 55 student entries and is eligible to send four entries to District for judging.  These four entries must each receive an equal first place award from the Post. If the Post lists them as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th place, then they can only send in one entry as the 1st place winner. 

  School/Youth Group  Competition Alternatives

We offer teachers/youth leaders the option to use the Voice of Democracy as a writing exercise.  The teacher/leader may submit all the entries to the Post for judging or conduct a judging within the group/class and advance a winner for every 15 participants.  Note: The Post Chairman should make this decision; working closely with the teacher or group leader.

School/Youth Group to Post

• 1-15 student participants =   1 top Post entry is allowed to advance to District
• 31-45 student participants = 3 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District Etc. 

  (Note: No Limit)

Each District shall be responsible for the conduct of the program and judging of entries within their District.  District Chairmen are expected to promote the expansion of the program by encouraging the participation of additional Posts.  It is not always possible to restrict sponsorship strictly along VFW District boundaries.  Posts may solicit student participation from any geographical area within the State of Michigan if they do not interfere with the sponsorship of other Posts.  District Chairmen are expected to assist Posts in the coordination of sponsorship of all schools in their District.  It is unacceptable that a school is not contacted.  

Each District may submit only one entry to the Department for judging.  This entry must be certified on the proper National Entry Form by the District Chairman to be the District First Place Winner of the District Program judging.  

The following items MUST accompany the District entry to Department for judging.  

• One student essay in accordance with the above rules.
• One completed student entry from the National Program booklet
• One good quality head and shoulder photograph. Wallet size.
• One signed student release form provided by Department.
• One State Biographical Questionnaire for the District Winner.

It is the responsibility of the District Chairman to ensure that all materials are included.  Any entry that does not include all materials may not be judged.

To obtain program credit the Post Chairman portion of the Student Entry Form must be completed and submitted to District with each Post entry.  The form must include the number of students participating from the school and the approximate cost for the program and awards for that school.  Proper credit cannot be given without this information.  District Chairmen are required to prepare and submit a consolidated report of Post participation within their District using the District Report Form and the District Summary Form.  These reports should accompany the District entry to Department.  

Deadline for Post sponsored program entries is October 31, 2022 .  Post judging may not be held before November 1, 2022 and must be completed in time to ensure that winning entries are delivered to the District Chairmen by November 16, 2022 . 

District judging may not be held before November 16, 2022 and must be completed in time to ensure that the winning entry with all required materials are delivered to the Department Director by December 16, 2022 . District judging is the responsibility of the District Chairman to be conducted in accordance with the National Judging Criteria.

The Department deadline for District entries is December 16, 2022 .  This deadline is ABSOLUTE, and it includes all paperwork.  Department judging will be closed and will be the responsibility of the Department Committee.  Be advised that the state judging will be attended only by the VFW Department Committee Members, VFW State Auxiliary Committee Members, and the State Judges. The Committee has the sole authority to disqualify from the Department judging any entry which is in violation of the rules as stated in the Department Program and the National Program booklet.   

It is the responsibility of the Post, District and Department adjutants to input the Patriotic Pen entries into the All-American Dashboard. This is to include all monetary values spent on this event. Failure to do so can cause the Post to show a Not Met in this category.

All Post and District awards are the responsibility of those organizations.

Department awards will be presented at the 2023 Department of Michigan Mid-Winter Conference.  District winners receiving Department awards will be invited to the Mid-Winter Conference and are expected to be present.  The sponsoring District must assume the cost of their winner’s transportation, meals, and lodging.  Department will provide each District winner with one banquet ticket.  Banquet tickets for family members and other guests are the sole responsibility of the District in cooperation with the sponsoring Post.  

• Patriot's Pen Student Entry Form
• Student Biographical Questionnaire
• School Release Form
• Patriot's Pen District Reporting Packet
• Patriot's Pen Score Sheet

Michael Martin, Director

199 East 34th St, Apt 1

Holland MI 49423

616-594-9151

[email protected]

Evelyn Avery

Dept Auxiliary Scholarship Chairman

44936 CR 352

Decatur MI 49045

269-423-8129

[email protected]

Address 12440 NE Halsey St. Portland, OR 97230 Contact Us via Email

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PATRIOTS PEN

2022 - 2023 Theme "My Pledge to Our Veterans”

The 2022 Student Entry Deadline is October 31, 2021, Click below to download the rules & eligibility and the Student Entry Form

Rules & Eligibility:

Student Entry Form: Patriotic Essay Writing Competition Grand Prize: $5,000 Award

Address 4622 Dutch Mill Road Madison, WI 53716 Contact Us via Email Phone: 608-221-5276 Fax: 608-221-5277

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PATRIOT PEN

Patriot's Pen Entry Form  

Patriot's Pen Brochure

National Manual for VOD and Patriot's Pen

District Participation Report

Patriot's Pen Scoresheet

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives 6 th -, 7 th - and 8 th grade students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme.  This year’s theme is, "My Pledge To Our Veterans"

CRITERIA:  The Patriot’s Pen is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Foreign exchange students and former winners that placed in the National contest are excluded from the contest.

HOW TO SUBMIT:  Essay length: 300 – 400 typewritten words (+ or – 5 words max).  You must write your own essay.  All essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics and cannot be less than 300 words or greater than 400 words in length. (Essays under or over these word amounts will be eliminated.) Every word is counted regardless of length. The essay title (theme) or added footnotes do not contribute to the word count.

In no way may contestants identify themselves within their essay (including, but not limited to, your name, school, city, state, race or national origin.) Do not put your name on your essay. The entry form is your essay’s cover sheet. Secure the Official Student Entry Form with a staple or other fastener on top of your essay. Contestants are allowed to enter only once each year if otherwise eligible (one Post competition). Contestants found in violation of this rule will face elimination from the competition and will be required to return any and all prize money awarded or received. 

The essay must be a contestant’s original work and a product of the contestant’s own thinking. The approach to the Patriot’s Pen theme should be positive and clearly focused. Poetry is not acceptable. Quotations may be used sparingly if plainly identified wherever used. A contestant’s teacher, counselor or parent may check the essay for punctuation, grammar and/or spelling, but the content must remain the contestant’s. Contestants will be judged on the basis of their essay alone and are not required to present the essay orally.

DEADLINES:  The following deadlines shall be adhered to:

• October 31, 2023 – Student entries to the Post 
• November 15, 2023 – Post winner submitted to the District 
• December 15, 2023 – District winners submitted to the Department
•   January 10, 2024 – Completion of Department judging
•   January 15, 2024 – District participation reports due to Department Chairperson
•   January 15, 2024 – Department winners submitted to National
•   January 31, 2024 – Department reports due to National

ALL-AMERICAN REQUIREMENTS:  Post must submit one candidate to District for judging and make a report via the All-American Dashboard.

ALL-STATE REQUIREMENTS:  Post must submit one candidate to District for judging, make a report via the Department reporting system, and the District Chairperson must annotate the Post’s participation on the District participation report.

District must submit one candidate to Department for judging.

AWARDS:   The First-Place winner is invited to the Mid-Winter Conference to read his/her speech.   Second and Third place shall be recognized locally.      

• First place - $1,000.00 and a plaque
• Second Place - $750.00 and a plaque
• Third Place - $500.00 and a plaque

Address 9136 Elk Grove Blvd Ste 100 Elk Grove, CA 95624-2075 Contact Us via Email Phone: 916-509-8712 Fax: 916-509-8720

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Patriot's Pen

About the program.

Patriot's Pen - A Youth Essay Writing Contest

Conducted nationwide, this Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 73,000 students who participated last year in this contest. Students in 6th - 8th grades enter the Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in State and National awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

2023-2024 Patriot's Pen Theme

"how are you inspired by america".

The Patriot’s Pen Program is judged on the following criteria:

Knowledge of the Theme (30 points) You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work. Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme Development (35 points) Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who, what, where, when and why. Relate the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of Ideas (35 points) Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.

Patriot's Pen Forms

2022-2023 national winner.

Leighton Peters , a 7th grade student from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, was named the 2022-2023 Patriot’s Pen first place winner. Her essay on the theme, “My Pledge to Our Veterans” won her a $5,000 award. Leighton was sponsored by VFW Post 2204 and its Auxiliary in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

How Does The Contest Work

All entries begin at the VFW Post level. The only exception is  where schools/classes/youth groups have large numbers of students and wish to conduct their own competition, submitting one winner for each 15 students to the VFW Post. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the Post.

The contest consists of four levels. The first level (entry) is sponsored by VFW Posts. Post winners advance, one for every 15 entries, to the VFW District (regional) level where the one first-place winner is advanced to the VFW Department (state) level. The first-place winner at the Department level is then advanced into the VFW national competition.

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PATRIOTS PEN

Patriot's Pen 2023-2024  

VFW National Headquarters announces the Patriot's Pen 2023-2024 Theme, "How are you inspired by America?".  

Student Entry Deadline:  October 31, 2023

Patriotic Written Essay Competition Grand Prize: $5,000 Award

Patriot's Pen Application

Patriot's Pen 2022-2023

"My Pledge to Our Veterans”

Bristol M. Thomas

First Place Winner from Fowlerville Junior High School, Fowlerville, Michigan

My Pledge   to our Veterans

I live in a country where I get to dream big dreams. When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher like my mom. As I got older, I decided that I want to be a cosmetologist. I enjoy talking to people and am interested in helping others be confident in themselves. I can best accomplish this by working with my future clients to help them look their best so they can feel their best. Now, you may be thinking what does this have to do with veterans? In my opinion, my dreams have everything to do with veterans.

I hope that every veteran knows that I am dreaming big dreams because of their service to our country. I   pray that every veteran understands how thankful I am for their service. I will work tirelessly to achieve my dreams because my dreams would never have been possible without our veterans. Our veterans have fought tirelessly throughout our country's history to protect the liberties and freedoms all Americans share. Without these liberties and freedoms, I may never have had the opportunity or choice to become a cosmetologist. Had our country's history been different, maybe my career would have been chosen for me. Had our country's history been different, as   a girl   I maybe wouldn't have been able to go to school or to have a career at all. However, thankfully we have men and women in each branch of the armed forces that are willing to fight for the liberties, freedoms and ideals imagined by our founding fathers. It is our veterans that have made the ideals and values expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution something that have carried on throughout America's history.

The veterans that have served our country deserve to be repaid by every single American. One of the   best ways we can   repay our veterans is to dream big dreams, work to achieve them and to show we are thankful for their service. Every veteran has taken an oath to defend our country against all enemies foreign and domestic and to uphold the Constitution of the United States. It is my oath to our veterans that not only will I work to achieve my dreams, I will do so in their honor so they know that nothing I accomplish in life would have been possible without their service to our great country.

  Past Patriots Pen Winners

2018-2019     Josiah J. Schafer                     Fowlerville Junior High School                  "Why I Honor the American Flag"

2019-2020     Brennan M Wyrembelski     Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School      "What Makes America Great"

2020-2021     Elsa G. Rosenthal                   Fowlerville Junior High School                   "What is Patriotism to Me"

2021-2022     Jackson Harlan                       Williamston Middle School                         "How Can I Be a Good American"

2021-2022     Bristol M Thomas                   Fowlerville Junior High School                   "How Can I Be a Good American"

2022-2023     Bristol M Thomas                   Fowlerville Junior High School                   "My Pledge to Our Veterans"

2023-2024                                                                                                                               "How are you inspired by America?"

Address 215 Veterans Drive Fowlerville, MI 48836 Contact Us via Email Phone: 517-223-9842

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PATRIOT PEN

Patriot's Pen Entry Form  

Patriot's Pen Brochure

National Manual for VOD and Patriot's Pen

District Participation Report

Patriot's Pen Scoresheet

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives 6 th -, 7 th - and 8 th grade students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme.  This year’s theme is, "My Pledge To Our Veterans"

CRITERIA:  The Patriot’s Pen is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Foreign exchange students and former winners that placed in the National contest are excluded from the contest.

HOW TO SUBMIT:  Essay length: 300 – 400 typewritten words (+ or – 5 words max).  You must write your own essay.  All essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics and cannot be less than 300 words or greater than 400 words in length. (Essays under or over these word amounts will be eliminated.) Every word is counted regardless of length. The essay title (theme) or added footnotes do not contribute to the word count.

In no way may contestants identify themselves within their essay (including, but not limited to, your name, school, city, state, race or national origin.) Do not put your name on your essay. The entry form is your essay’s cover sheet. Secure the Official Student Entry Form with a staple or other fastener on top of your essay. Contestants are allowed to enter only once each year if otherwise eligible (one Post competition). Contestants found in violation of this rule will face elimination from the competition and will be required to return any and all prize money awarded or received. 

The essay must be a contestant’s original work and a product of the contestant’s own thinking. The approach to the Patriot’s Pen theme should be positive and clearly focused. Poetry is not acceptable. Quotations may be used sparingly if plainly identified wherever used. A contestant’s teacher, counselor or parent may check the essay for punctuation, grammar and/or spelling, but the content must remain the contestant’s. Contestants will be judged on the basis of their essay alone and are not required to present the essay orally.

DEADLINES:  The following deadlines shall be adhered to:

• October 31, 2023 – Student entries to the Post 
• November 15, 2023 – Post winner submitted to the District 
• December 15, 2023 – District winners submitted to the Department
•   January 10, 2024 – Completion of Department judging
•   January 15, 2024 – District participation reports due to Department Chairperson
•   January 15, 2024 – Department winners submitted to National
•   January 31, 2024 – Department reports due to National

ALL-AMERICAN REQUIREMENTS:  Post must submit one candidate to District for judging and make a report via the All-American Dashboard.

ALL-STATE REQUIREMENTS:  Post must submit one candidate to District for judging, make a report via the Department reporting system, and the District Chairperson must annotate the Post’s participation on the District participation report.

District must submit one candidate to Department for judging.

AWARDS:   The First-Place winner is invited to the Mid-Winter Conference to read his/her speech.   Second and Third place shall be recognized locally.      

• First place - $1,000.00 and a plaque
• Second Place - $750.00 and a plaque
• Third Place - $500.00 and a plaque

Address 171 Jersey St, Bldg 5 2nd Floor Trenton NJ, NJ 08611 Contact Us via Email Phone: 609-393-1929 Fax: 609-393-3031

Ken Hagemann, USMC

State Adjutant/QM

Phone: 609-393-1929

Email:  [email protected]

Juan Class, ARMY

State Inspector

Email:  [email protected]

Helen Inirio, ARMY

Assistant to State Adjutant/QM

Membership/Bonds/Poppies

Email:  [email protected]

Deborah Donaghy, ARMY

Office Assistant

Email:  [email protected]

Meggan McFadden

Office Administrator

Email: [email protected]

Bob Weiss, USMC    

Department Veteran Service Officer

Phone: 609-393-1952

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #50928

Joshua Hansen, ARMY

Veterans Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]

VA Accreditation #43230

Ryan Maharaj, ARMY

Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53926

Charles Thorp, ARMY

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53925

Mike Boll, USMC

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53920

Jaime Santiago, ARMY

Phone: 856-401-7660

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #51517

Gloucester County Veterans Affairs

211 County House Rd

Kevin O'Hora, USMC

Phone: 201-336-6329

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #49906

Bergen County Department of Human Services

One Bergen County Plaza - 2nd fl - Hackensack NJ

Shaun Hutchinson, ARMY

Phone: 201-336-6326

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #52036

Denise Balderama, USMC/ARMY

Assistant Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #29542

Adrian Romero, ARMY

Outreach Coordinator

Phone: 609-569-2176

Email:  [email protected]

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PATRIOT'S PEN

Patriot's pen 2022-2023 theme is: "my pledge to our veterans.".

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in grades 6-8 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. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay,  read the rules and eligibility requirements , and   find your sponsoring   local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 .   Download and complete the 2022-2023 entry form here . 

  Patriot’s Pen Scholarship

Students compete by writing an essay on an annual patriotic theme. All entries begin at the VFW Post level. The only exception is where schools/classes/youth groups have large numbers of students and wish to conduct their own competition, submitting one winner for each 15 students to the VFW Post. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the Post. Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, State and national level. Department (State) winners receive a portion of $55,000 in national awards. National Winners will receive at least $500. The first-place national award is currently $5,000.  The Patriot’s Pen essay is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled by the Oct. 31 deadline.

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VFW Post 2197

Patriot’s Pen

2022-2023 Theme “My Pledgeto our Veterans.”

Student Entry Deadline: 31 October 2022

Patriotic written essay competition grand prize: $5,000 award.

What is the Patriot’s Pen Program? Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 84,000 students who participated last year in this contest.

Why Should I Enter? Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, State and national level. Department (State) winners receive a portion of $55,000 in national awards. National Winners will receive at least $500. The first-place national award is currently $5,000 .

The Internal Revenue Service requires a recipient awarded more than $599 be given Form 1099 identifying the proceeds as taxable income. This may require the winner to provide their social security number.

How Does the Contest Work? All entries begin at the VFW Post level. The only exception is where schools/classes/youth groups have large numbers of students and wish to conduct their own competition, submitting one winner for each 15 students to the VFW Post. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the Post. The contest consists of four levels. The first level (entry) is sponsored by VFW Posts. Post winners advance, one for every 15 entries, to the VFW District (regional) level where the one first-place winner is advanced to the VFW Department (state) level. The first-place winner at the Department level is then advanced into the VFW national competition.

Who Can Enter? Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled by the Oct. 31 deadline in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. (Foreign exchange students or former winners that placed in the National contest are ineligible.)

How Do I Get Started? • Ask a teacher or youth group/club adult leader to supervise the Patriot’s Pen writing contest. • Contact a participating VFW Post and indicate your interest in participating. • Establish a contact person who is a member of that VFW Post or its VFW Auxiliary. • Make sure that your essay is submitted to the VFW Post before the contest deadline of Oct. 31, 2022. You can submit your essay and entry form by email upon the Post’s approval. Entries sent to the VFW National Headquarters directly will be returned.

How Am I Judged? Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points: You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work. Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme development is worth 35 points: Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who, what, where, when and why. Relate the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of ideas is worth 35 points: Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.

What Is the Theme? VFW’s Commander-in-Chief annually chooses the year’s theme.

The 2022-2023 theme is:

“My Pledge To Our Veterans.”

Deadline Information. To qualify, all entries must be submitted to a sponsoring VFW Post by midnight October 31, 2022.

Note: If you need help finding a participating VFW Post, follow these instructions:

First, visit vfw.org/FindaPost to “Find a VFW Post.”

If you don’t have success in finding a Post, or if you have trouble contacting them, you can contact your VFW Department (state) headquarters office to see if they can offer any information or assistance. You can visit vfw.org/contactus to look for “Find a State Contact” to get your VFW state office’s phone number and Email.

For assistance contact the VFW National Headquarters at 816.756.3390 ext. 6155 Email: [email protected]

PATRIOTS PEN

2022-2023 Theme

"My Pledge to Our Veterans.”

Student Entry Deadline: October 31, 2022

PatrioticWritten Essay Competition Grand Prize: $5,000Award

 The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.

Address P.O. Box 3323 Huntsville, 35810 Contact Us via Email

Menu Home About Programs Resources News Contact Members Only

Links Site Admin Webmail Follow on Facebook VFW National VFW Store National Auxiliary Site

"My Pledge to Our Veterans." - 2022 Theme VFW Patriot's Pen Scholarship

Patriot's Pen

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay, read the rules and eligibility requirements , and find your sponsoring local VFW Post as applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31 . Download and complete the 2022-2023 entry form here .

The 2022-23 theme is:  "My Pledge to Our Veterans."

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in grades 6-8 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. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000

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PATRIOT PEN

2022-2023 "PATRIOT’S PEN” ESSAY Program

"My Pledge to Our Veterans"

All information pertaining to the theme, judging, eligibility, awards, and other aspects of this program are contained in the Veterans of Foreign Wars program booklet for the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program.  District Chairmen are responsible to ensure that their District programs are conducted within these rules and deadlines.   Make sure that you distribute copies of your program to all Posts in your District in enough time to ensure a successful competition.

The Patriot’s Pen Essay Program is a joint program with the VFW Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Michigan.  The Auxiliary does not need the permission of a Post to participate in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program.  Post and District Chairmen are expected to include their VFW Auxiliary counterparts in all activities concerning the conduct of local and District programs. Coordination of the District program is the sole responsibility of each District Chairman. Post Chairmen must refer to their District program for their District program requirements and deadline dates.  

  Judging the Contest

The suggested number of judges is five to nine (or a minimum of three).  Judges should be from outside your Posts/Auxiliaries and should represent your community.  Judges must not be connected in any way with the students in the competition.  Set the date for your judging and invite the judges at least 90 days in advance.  Remind them a week before the competition with a letter or email, and two days before with a phone call.

Eligibility

Sixth (6th), Seventh (7th) and Eighth (8th) grade students in public, private, parochial, and home schools in the State of Michigan.  Former first place winners at the State and National level competition or any foreign exchange student are not eligible.  Students do not have to be relatives of a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or its VFW Auxiliary to participate.  

Essays must be typed, or computer printed in English, between 300-400 words, on a single sheet of paper, with no added color or art.            

Posts 

To receive credit for participation in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program, a Post MUST  SPONSOR THE PROGRAM IN THEIR COMMUNITY.  While it is important to offer the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program in our schools, it is not solely a program for the schools.  You may offer the competition to any sixth, seventh or eighth grade student.  Foreign exchange students are not eligible.  All entries MUST be submitted directly to the Post.  They may be sponsored through local schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church youth groups, Junior ROTC programs, etc.  The Post is encouraged to solicit participants from as many sources as possible.  

The Post will hold their own judging and may submit to District the number of students permitted by the following breakdown.  

• 1-15 student participants = 1 top Post entry is allowed to advance to District
• 16-30 student participants = 2 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District
• 31-45 student participants = 3 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District Etc.

 (Note: No Limit)

Posts may advance as many winners as they select based on the total number of students participating.  Post judging is the responsibility of the Post Chairman and must be conducted in accordance with the National Judging Criteria.   

The Post may forward each 1st place winning entry to District.  Each student entry submitted by a Post to District must be an equal 1st place winner.  This means each Post student entry sent to District must receive the same award.  For example, a Post has 55 student entries and is eligible to send four entries to District for judging.  These four entries must each receive an equal first place award from the Post. If the Post lists them as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th place, then they can only send in one entry as the 1st place winner. 

  School/Youth Group  Competition Alternatives

We offer teachers/youth leaders the option to use the Voice of Democracy as a writing exercise.  The teacher/leader may submit all the entries to the Post for judging or conduct a judging within the group/class and advance a winner for every 15 participants.  Note: The Post Chairman should make this decision; working closely with the teacher or group leader.

School/Youth Group to Post

• 1-15 student participants =   1 top Post entry is allowed to advance to District
• 31-45 student participants = 3 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District Etc. 

  (Note: No Limit)

Each District shall be responsible for the conduct of the program and judging of entries within their District.  District Chairmen are expected to promote the expansion of the program by encouraging the participation of additional Posts.  It is not always possible to restrict sponsorship strictly along VFW District boundaries.  Posts may solicit student participation from any geographical area within the State of Michigan if they do not interfere with the sponsorship of other Posts.  District Chairmen are expected to assist Posts in the coordination of sponsorship of all schools in their District.  It is unacceptable that a school is not contacted.  

Each District may submit only one entry to the Department for judging.  This entry must be certified on the proper National Entry Form by the District Chairman to be the District First Place Winner of the District Program judging.  

The following items MUST accompany the District entry to Department for judging.  

• One student essay in accordance with the above rules.
• One completed student entry from the National Program booklet
• One good quality head and shoulder photograph. Wallet size.
• One signed student release form provided by Department.
• One State Biographical Questionnaire for the District Winner.

It is the responsibility of the District Chairman to ensure that all materials are included.  Any entry that does not include all materials may not be judged.

To obtain program credit the Post Chairman portion of the Student Entry Form must be completed and submitted to District with each Post entry.  The form must include the number of students participating from the school and the approximate cost for the program and awards for that school.  Proper credit cannot be given without this information.  District Chairmen are required to prepare and submit a consolidated report of Post participation within their District using the District Report Form and the District Summary Form.  These reports should accompany the District entry to Department.  

Deadline for Post sponsored program entries is October 31, 2022 .  Post judging may not be held before November 1, 2022 and must be completed in time to ensure that winning entries are delivered to the District Chairmen by November 16, 2022 . 

District judging may not be held before November 16, 2022 and must be completed in time to ensure that the winning entry with all required materials are delivered to the Department Chairman by December 16, 2022 . District judging is the responsibility of the District Chairman to be conducted in accordance with the National Judging Criteria.

The Department deadline for District entries is December 16, 2022 .  This deadline is ABSOLUTE, and it includes all paperwork.  Department judging will be closed and will be the responsibility of the Department Committee.  Be advised that the state judging will be attended only by the VFW Department Committee Members, VFW State Auxiliary Committee Members, and the State Judges. The Committee has the sole authority to disqualify from the Department judging any entry which is in violation of the rules as stated in the Department Program and the National Program booklet.   

It is the responsibility of the Post, District and Department adjutants to input the Patriotic Pen entries into the All-American Dashboard. This is to include all monetary values spent on this event. Failure to do so can cause the Post to show a Not Met in this category.

All Post and District awards are the responsibility of those organizations.

Department awards will be presented at the 2023 Department of Iowa Mid-Winter Conference.  District winners receiving Department awards will be invited to the Mid-Winter Conference and are expected to be present.  The sponsoring District must assume the cost of their winner’s transportation, meals, and lodging.  Department will provide each District winner with one banquet ticket.  Banquet tickets for family members and other guests are the sole responsibility of the District in cooperation with the sponsoring Post.  

• Patriot's Pen Student Entry Form
• Student Biographical Questionnaire
• School Release Form
• Patriot's Pen District Reporting Packet
• Patriot's Pen Score Sheet

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VFW Department of Iowa 5th District is a All American District for the years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

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'It Felt Like a Dream'

After accepting the $35,000 t.c. selman memorial scholarship, a high school sophomore from tennessee explained what motivated him.

When Scotland Stewart sat down to ponder the 2022-23 Voice of Democracy (VOD) audio-essay prompt — “Why is the veteran important?” — the 15-year-old high school sophomore had only to look at his parents.

Raised by Air Force and Navy veterans, who themselves were raised by veterans, the VOD question was a deep and personal introspection on Stewart’s own family ethos.

“Pretty much everyone in my mom and dad’s families served in the military,” said Stewart, who won the 2022-23 VOD top prize, the $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship, in March. “I have followed their example my whole life, so I’ve always had the foundation and understanding of the importance of veterans and their impact on our country.”

“These are simple words to most of us, but to our nation’s veterans, these are their core values in life,” wrote Stewart, whose essay was sponsored by VFW Post 1893 in Estill Springs, Tennessee. “These words sustained them as they defended us.”

Stewart, whose father, Jerry, deployed during Operation Desert Storm, continued his essay by noting how shameful it is that U.S. citizens neglect the sacrifices that men and women in uniform have endured.

“Unfortunately, in America, respect and remembrance of our veterans has declined beyond an acceptable level of where it should be,” Stewart said. “The plight of our veterans, once returning home, is disgraceful.”

Stewart’s essay notes the sobering statistics of veterans succumbing to suicide or homelessness. As a result, he adds, “the percentage of Americans who can claim veteran status has declined from 18 percent in 1980 to 7 percent in 2018.”

This last statistic captured in Stewart’s winning essay segues into his plea to recognize the importance of veterans and what they’ve given to the nation.

“These brave men and women fight the battles abroad so that we do not have to fight here at home,” Stewart stated. “They provide the very liberty that allows us to enjoy the rights guaranteed in our Constitution, while placing themselves in harm’s way to do so.”

Ending his essay with a reiteration of the four pillars that have been instilled in him by the veterans in his own life, Stewart drove the point home.

“Veterans of the U.S. military are important because they risked their lives on the battlefield so that we can safely live ours in the shadows of peace,” Stewart said. “In return, we owe them that same honor, integrity, loyalty and service we received from them.”

‘I NEVER GAVE UP’ Stewart submitted his powerful audio-essay for consideration before the deadline in October last year, joining more than 26,000 VOD contest participants whose essays all painted a unique picture on the importance of veterans.

When he was later short-listed and then selected to represent the VFW Department of Tennessee after winning at the state level, the thought that this might be his year was planted.

“I had been applying since my English teacher in the seventh grade gave us copies of the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen contest form to fill out,” Stewart said of the national program for middle school students. “As the years went on, I kept applying. I never gave up.”

As had been customary in years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Stewart joined the other 52 VFW Department VOD winners for the national finals in Washington, D.C.

Arriving on March 4 in Arlington, Virginia, the VOD finalists spent a couple of days sightseeing prior to the highly anticipated Parade of Winners, the event at which the national winners are announced. The tour of sites was hosted and funded by VFW and the program’s title sponsor, Twisted X.

Since partnering in 2019, Twisted X’s sponsorships of VOD and Patriot’s Pen programs have helped thousands of student participants receive scholarships. The partnership helped raise more than $1.3 million for VOD winners in 2022-23 alone, as well as nearly $780,000 toward Patriot’s Pen winners.

“VFW is encouraging and providing a platform for young adults to express their feelings about various patriotic themes,” said Prasad Reddy, Twisted X president and CEO. “I feel that this is truly a great experience for these young adults, and it is an honor and privilege for us to be a partner in this unique program with VFW.”

From Arlington National Cemetery and the Holocaust Museum to Mount Vernon and the National Mall, Stewart and the other 52 finalists followed a schedule that afforded them access to hallowed ground, where veterans are honored and memorialized for their sacrifices.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Stewart said. “I had been to D.C. in the past, but getting to experience it with kids from everywhere made it extra special. It led to some unbreakable bonds for sure.”

Having toured for a couple of days and making friends along the way, Stewart and the 52 other VOD finalists came together for the Parade of Winners on March 6 at the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Crystal City in Arlington.

‘IT’S AN ABSOLUTE HONOR’ The Parade of Winners was held in front of thousands of VFW delegates in town for the annual Legislative Conference in the nation’s capital, which ran from March 5-9.

As the final three names were called by Jr. Vice Commander-in-Chief Al Lipphardt, narrowing down to the T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship, Stewart recalled the nerves gripping him.

When his name finally rolled off the mic and echoed across the Regency Ballroom, Stewart basked in the moment by accepting his top prize with an incandescent smile and a firm handshake from VFW Commander-in-Chief Timothy Borland.

“It was unreal,” Stewart said. “Getting to fly out to D.C. was already a huge deal. But when they began nailing it down by names, my heart was going crazy. Then they called first place, and I just couldn’t believe it. It felt like a dream.”

After accepting the $35,000 award from VFW and Twisted X, Stewart approached the podium to read his winning essay in front of the large crowd made up of VFW delegates.

“Well, it is an absolute honor to be up here tonight,” began Stewart, who plans to use his scholarship toward a degree in economics or political science. “I can’t believe this is happening. I want to thank every person for coming out here tonight. I want to congratulate every person on stage here tonight.”

Like a person poised for large crowds, Stewart commanded center stage as he recited his essay to those in the audience, who gave him a standing ovation following the final sentence, an homage to all veterans living by those very four words — Honor. Integrity. Loyalty. Service.

Stewart’s speech was followed by 2023 Patriot’s Pen first-place winner Leighton Peters, a seventh-grader from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, who received the $5,000 Paul A. Spera Past Commander-in-Chief Award.

Peters’ winning essay, sponsored by VFW Post 2204 in Rice Lake, was themed “My Pledge to Our Veterans,” and received another standing ovation.

‘EXTREMELY BLESSED BY YOUR SUPPORT’ Returning to his hometown of Winchester, about 90 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee, Stewart was welcomed as the national VOD winner, an honor he was quick to share.

“My town has supported me, my school and school principal have all supported me,” Stewart said. “I miss the people in D.C. a lot, but I’ve enjoyed coming back to my hometown and sharing this honor with them.”

As for the friends he made during the Voice of Democracy national finals, Stewart continues to keep in touch with them. The sophomore, who admitted that the new scholarship has afforded him the chance to expand his college options, will see those new friends again in mid-June.

Customary for VOD winners, VFW is sending the 53 winners of the contest to the renowned Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, for an interactive history lesson that runs from June 15-18.

Stewart also has been extended an invitation to attend Twisted X’s awards dinner on June 27 as an honorary guest.

“I’m very grateful for what has become one of the best experiences of my life,” Stewart said. “Everyone at VFW [and contest sponsor Twisted X], from the national level down to the local, I am extremely blessed by your support.”

This article is featured in the 2023 June/July issue of VFW magazine , and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr. , senior writer for VFW magazine. 

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PATRIOT PEN

Patriot's Pen Entry Form  

Patriot's Pen Brochure

National Manual for VOD and Patriot's Pen

District Participation Report

Patriot's Pen Scoresheet

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives 6 th -, 7 th - and 8 th  grade students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme.  This year’s theme is,  "My Pledge To Our Veterans"

CRITERIA:   The Patriot’s Pen is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Foreign exchange students and former winners that placed in the National contest are excluded from the contest.

HOW TO SUBMIT:   Essay length: 300 – 400 typewritten words (+ or – 5 words max).  You must write your own essay.  All essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics and cannot be less than 300 words or greater than 400 words in length. (Essays under or over these word amounts will be eliminated.) Every word is counted regardless of length. The essay title (theme) or added footnotes do not contribute to the word count.

In no way may contestants identify themselves within their essay (including, but not limited to, your name, school, city, state, race or national origin.) Do not put your name on your essay. The entry form is your essay’s cover sheet. Secure the Official Student Entry Form with a staple or other fastener on top of your essay. Contestants are allowed to enter only once each year if otherwise eligible (one Post competition). Contestants found in violation of this rule will face elimination from the competition and will be required to return any and all prize money awarded or received. 

The essay must be a contestant’s original work and a product of the contestant’s own thinking. The approach to the Patriot’s Pen theme should be positive and clearly focused. Poetry is not acceptable. Quotations may be used sparingly if plainly identified wherever used. A contestant’s teacher, counselor or parent may check the essay for punctuation, grammar and/or spelling, but the content must remain the contestant’s. Contestants will be judged on the basis of their essay alone and are not required to present the essay orally.

DEADLINES:  The following deadlines shall be adhered to:

• October 31, 2023 – Student entries to the Post 
• November 15, 2023 – Post winner submitted to the District 
• December 15, 2023 – District winners submitted to the Department
•   January 10, 2024 – Completion of Department judging
•   January 15, 2024 – District participation reports due to Department Chairperson
•   January 15, 2024 – Department winners submitted to National
•   January 31, 2024 – Department reports due to National

ALL-AMERICAN REQUIREMENTS:   Post must submit one candidate to District for judging and make a report via the All-American Dashboard.

ALL-STATE REQUIREMENTS:   Post must submit one candidate to District for judging, make a report via the Department reporting system, and the District Chairperson must annotate the Post’s participation on the District participation report.

District must submit one candidate to Department for judging.

AWARDS:   The First-Place winner is invited to the Mid-Winter Conference to read his/her speech.   Second and Third place shall be recognized locally.       

• First place - $1,000.00 and a plaque
• Second Place - $750.00 and a plaque
• Third Place - $500.00 and a plaque

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• Scholarships: Voice of Democracy & Patriot’s Pen Deadlines Approaching
• Programs Blog

Melody Judd 2022 – 2023 National Scholarship Ambassador

Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen

Here it is October and the October 31 st deadline for Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen is approaching fast, just like winter. Where I live in Eastern Arizona, our mountain peaks received their first dusting of snow this week.

The theme for Voice of Democracy is “ Why is the Veteran Important?” and the theme for Patriot’s Pen is “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”  In the United States where less than 1% of our nation’s citizens serve in the military, our youth must understand what a veteran is and the freedoms they have because of our veterans; that is what makes both themes important and relevant.

• The National first-place winner will receive a $35,000 scholarship.
• The National first-place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

For more information about Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen, click here to visit the VFW website.

The VFW Auxiliary works in partnership with our VFW Comrades to promote these two VFW – sponsored contests.

Get The Word Out – Where? Every Where!

Recognition is Key – It is important that scholarship and contest winners are recognized at every level.

Make sure applications are fully completed and legible before advancing them to the next competition level.  We don’t want a scholarship applicant to be disqualified because the application wasn’t completed.