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2022 Virtual Parade of Winners

Join us April 1 at 7 p.m. CDT for the 2022 virtual Parade of Winners and see who takes home the top $30,000 prize!

Every year, nearly 230,000 of our nation's youth compete in the VFW's Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen audio essay competitions for their chance to win a portion of more than $3 million in college scholarships and awards.

The competitions culminate with the Parade of Winners event, designed to celebrate and recognize the contests’ top national winners.

This year, the VFW will host its annual Parade of Winners virtually on April 7 at 7 p.m. CDT, live on Facebook. B e sure to tap “interested,” then “going” on the Facebook event to ensure you stay up-to-date and receive all event notifications. To listen to the winning essay from your state, click here .

During the historic event, VFW and VFW Auxiliary state and national leadership, representatives from program sponsors Twisted X , and this year’s 52 Voice of Democracy Department (state) winners will come together from all over the world as we crown the 2022 national Voice of Democracy first place winner.

Open to eligible middle and high school students, the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions require students submit an essay based on a selected patriotic theme. Winning entries selected by local VFW Posts go on to compete at their District and Department (state) level, with state winners competing at the national level.

The Voice of Democracy top prize is the $30,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship, and the Patriot’s Pen grand prize winner receives the $5,000 Paul A. Spera Past Commander-in-Chief Award.

Voice of Democracy

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

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. 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 Voice of Democracy entry form here .

The 2022-23 theme is: "Why is the Veteran Important?"

About the 2021-2022 winner ...

Daniela Mare, a junior at Sachem High School North in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, was named the 2021-2022 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Daniela's speech on the theme, "America: Where Do We Go from Here?" won her a $30,000 college scholarship. Daniela was sponsored by VFW Post 9486 and its Auxiliary in Centereach, New York. Watch as Daniela delivered her speech during the VFW's virtual Parade of Winners award ceremony.

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full virtual Parade of Winners ceremony which was streamed live on Facebook, or see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

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 .

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

Syed Ali, an eighth grade student from Lafayette, Louisiana, was named the 2021-2022 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Can I Be a Good American?" won him a $5,000 award. Syed was sponsored by New Iberia, Louisiana, VFW Post 1982.

Watch as Syed delivered his winning essay , during the VFW's virtual Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or see the complete list of 2022 national winners .

Click to listen to your state's Voice of Democracy winner

Find Out More

Patriot's Pen

Vfw in the community.

Post 9934 & VFW Auxiliary Dana Point, California

Patriot’s pen 2021-2022.

About the 2021-2022 winner …

Syed Ali, an eighth grade student from Lafayette, Louisiana, was named the 2021-2022 Patriot’s Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, “How Can I Be a Good American?” won him a $5,000 award. Syed was sponsored by New Iberia, Louisiana, VFW Post 1982.

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.

YOU TOO CAN WIN!

WHO CAN ENTER : The Patriot’s Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

HOW TO ENTER:

VFW Post 9934 serves the area of Dana Point and San Clemente, California, and nearby communities.

In this area, Contact VFW Post 9934 for additional assistance and a copy of the entry form.

For areas outside Dana Point and San Clemente, California, contact the local VFW Post. To locate a Post, go to http://www.vfw.org/find-a-post.

The 2021-2022 theme is: “My Pledge to Our Veterans”

Students can ask a teacher or youth group leader to supervise their progress in the competition. Then students can contact VFW Post 9934 and establish a contact person who is a member of that Post or Auxiliary.

Deadline — The completed essay and entry form must be in the hands of the VFW Post Chairman by midnight October 31, 2022.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

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 ARE THE RULES ?

In no way may contestants identify themselves in their essay. 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. Essays must be written exclusively for this competition. Use of the same essay for other competitions will result in disqualification. Contestants are allowed to enter only once (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. All essays become the property of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW retains non-exclusive rights to use your essay and likeness in the promotion and execution of the organization’s programs and activities.

PATRIOT'S PEN

2022-2023 Theme: "My Pledge to our Veterans"

WHAT IS THE PATRIOT’S PEN?

Conduct e d nation w id e, this VFW -sponsor e d y outh essay c omp e tition encourages students to use their minds and knowledge of America’s history and their experience of today’s American society to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join more than 120,000 students who participated last year in this contests.

Patriot’s Pen gives 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills, while they compete for awards and prizes. The awards from all levels of the competition total $1.2 million each year. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on their National Advisory List of Contests for participation. The theme for the Annual VFW Patriot’s Pen Essay is " What is Patriotism To Me ." The contest is open to all students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades in public, private, parochial schools, as well as, home-schooled children in the United States and its territories or its possessions and dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Former first place state winners are not eligible to compete again. Foreign exchange students and adults are not eligible to compete. Although U. S. citize nship is not r e quir e d, st ud e nts must be lawful U. S. permanent r eside nts or ha ve ap plie d f or permanent r eside nc e (the ap plicatio n cannot have been d enie d) and int e nds to b ec ome a U.S. citize n at the earliest opportunity allowe d b y law. Brochures on the program were mailed to all Post Commanders and Auxiliary Presidents. Schools should be contacted as soon as they open for the current year in order that the teachers can include the contest in the lesson plans. Posts are responsible for giving their area schools Patriot’s Pen pamphlets. You can check the program on the web at www.vfw.org/patriotspen to see requirements and print the entry forms.

ESSAY RULES AND GUIDELINES:

· Must be TYPED in English, BLACK INK ONLY

· Must be 300-400 words in length. Word count does NOT include the title or footnotes.

· NO Graphics allowed

· Contestants will NOT identify themselves within their essay to include, but not limited to, their name, school, city, state, race, or national origin.

· Official entry form included with Essay. Form may be printed online at www.vfw.org

· Three typed copies of the Essay

VERY IMPORTANT:

POST CHAIRMAN SHOULD pursue a notice in local media.

Posts may submit one winning entry to the District for judging.

Districts may submit one winning entry to the Department Chairman.

PATRIOT’S PEN Deadlines:

Midnight, October 31, Entries to the Post

December 13, District Winners due to Department Chairman

Patriots Pen Requirements: Rules / Eligibility

2022-23 Patriots Pen Entry Form

DO NOT mail District entries and required forms to State Headquarters. Mail them directly to the State Patriot’s Pen Chairman!

POST PARTICIPATION REPORT FORM

DISTRICT PARTICIPATION REPORTING FORM (by POST):

DISTRICT VOD / PP WINNER REPORT:

Address 4210 East Kiehl Ave. Sherwood, AR 72120 Contact Us via Email Phone: 501-834-8392 Fax: 501-833-0205

M: 0830-1630 T: 0830-1630 W: 0830-1630 Th: 0830-1630 F: 0830-1100 Sat: CLOSED Sun: CLOSED

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Lockport, NY (14094)

Cloudy with periods of snow late. High 41F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%..

Periods of snow along with gusty winds at times especially this evening. Low 32F. Winds ENE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 8 to 12 inches of snow expected. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Updated: March 3, 2023 @ 7:12 am

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Niagara County POWs honored

Rent strike ends at ridgeview mhp, a fuller house these days at belknap intermediate, bills dc frazier taking a year off, plans to re…, vfw's 2022-2023 scholarship essay contests underway.

Oct 18, 2022

Veterans of Foreign Wars has announced the kickoff of its 2022-2023 Voice of Democracy and Patriot‘s Pen scholarship competitions.

The essay contests are intended to encourage a better understanding and appreciation of the United States and foster patriotism among the nation’s youth. Students are asked to submit an essay in response to a question or topic that prompts them to consider how American history and democratic ideals and principles apply in their lives.

This year’s Voice of Democracy theme asks students to contemplate “Why is the veteran important?” It’s an audio-essay contest open to students in grades nine through 12. More information and application forms can be found at https://tinyurl.com/VFWVOD .

The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to students in grades six through eight. This year’s theme is “My pledge to our veterans.” More information and application forms can be found at https://tinyurl.com/VFWPEN .

Students are asked to hand deliver or mail their entries to VFW Post 2535, 112 Caledonia St., Lockport, NY 14094, in care of Stephanie Thurston, no later than Oct. 31.

For more information, contact Stephanie Thurston at [email protected] or Terri Emmert, scholarship chair, at 716-433-0319.

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