VFW Announces Essay Contest

Show Low, Arizona - The Commander for District 6, Department of Arizona, Veterans of Foreign Wars, has announced that the Patriot's Pen Youth Essay writing contest for students in grades 6-8 is open for 2008-09. This year's theme is "Why America's Veterans Should be Honored." Entry deadline is November 1, 2008. Students from public schools, charter schools, private schools, religious schools, and home schools are invited to participate. Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria, is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades 6,7 and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy. Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the contest. Contestants write a 300-400 word essay based on an annual patriotic theme. The first-place winner receives a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The top national winners each receive a savings bond anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. The Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program has been announced for students in grades 9-12. This year's theme is "Service and Sacrifice by America's Veterans Benefit Today's Youth by _______." (Fill in the blank). Entry deadline is November 1, 2008. Students from public schools, charter schools, private schools, religious schools, and home schools are invited to participate. Created in 1947, the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The first-place winner, who competes with the all the first-place VFW Department winners, receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient's American university, college or vocational/technical school. For more information, contact your local VFW Post, or visit the VFW website at VFW.org/ under the Programs heading. Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay, to a local VFW Post. You may also call the VFW National Programs office during normal business hours at 816-968-1117. Mail entry form and essay to the local VFW post. Further directions are listed on the entry form. The point of contact in the Tonto Basin and Punkin Center area is Mr. Gene Scott, VFW Post 88807. Please call 928-479-2637 with any questions.