YOUTH ESSAY CONTESTS

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) offer two (2) Youth Essay Contests each year; for 2023-2024 they are: 

 

1) The Voice of Democracy (VOD) Theme is:

    

The 2023-24 theme is: 
"What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"

 

·       Deadline when it must be received by our Post: October 31, 2023

·       Total Awards: $154,000

·       Top Individual National Award: $30,000

                    

VOD is for students who will be in Grades 9-12 on October 31, 2023. This contest requires the student to make a recording (thumb drive) and turn it in with a typed transcript. They are never more than two pages. See the contest rules (links are below).

 

All entries submitted to VFW Post 8720 are judged by members of the Post. We are  in VFW District #9.

 

The winning VOD entry (in District #9) is sent to the VFW Department of Louisiana(State); they make their own judgment. The student who originates the winning District #9 VOD entry is asked, along with his/her parents, to attend our VFW State Convention in mid-January 2024; all expenses paid. At this State Convention, the State winner is announced. The VOD contest is the only one that does this.

 

Should the District #9 VOD winner also be the State winner, their entry is sent to National VFW. Only the student is allowed to go to Washington DC, all expenses paid, for the VFW National Convention in late July 2024.

 

The student is escorted to the VFW National Convention by both the State VFW Commander and the State VFW Auxiliary President. The student will join the VOD State winners from the other 49 States. The parents are not allowed.

 

Aside from attending the VFW National Convention, where the President of the United States is usually one of the speakers, the students are driven around to many of the sites in Washington DC. This can be a life-changing event for each of the students.

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2) The Patriot’s Pen theme is:   

   "How Are You Inspired by America?"

  

·       Deadline when it must be received by our Post: October 31, 2023

·       Total Awards: $55,000 

·       Top Individual National Award: $5,000


                      

The Patriot’s Pen contest is for students who will be in Grades 6-8 on October 31, 2023. This contest calls for the student to submit a typed essay; they are never more than two pages. See the contest rules (links are below).

 

The winning Patriot’s Pen entry in District #9 is sent to the VFW Department of Louisiana (State). State makes their own judgment. The 2023-2024 State winner of the Patriot's Pen contest is announced at the State Convention in June 2024.

 

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Links (below) are to the necessary forms that students need to complete and submit. They can be submitted along with the essay to our PO Box 528, Abita Springs, LA 70420. 

  

For more information, call our Quartermaster, Michael Peats (985) 502-8802 -or- Post Commander, Paul Hamburger (504) 430-4558. 

 

Click on the Links below to see the Entry Forms:

·                   Voice of Democracy Rules and Entry Form 

·                   Patriot's Pen Rules and Entry Form