Calendar Committees VOD/Patriots Pen Recent Events

Voice of Democracy

Entry Deadline
November 1 each year

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 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.

Besides competing for the top scholarship prize, as well as other national scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $16,000, each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Target.

The VOD program is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria and is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay based on an annual theme.

How to Enter:
Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, Click here for the VOD students entry form http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/vod.pdf along with their essay and recording to Don or Frances Hall, Youth Activities Chairman.

*Historically, the theme (annually chosen by the VFW commander-in-chief) is purposely kept broad in scope to allow the participant flexibility in interpretation to encourage originality. Since the VFW is a patriotic organization, the annual theme always will be related to patriotism.

Patriot's Pen

Entry Deadline
November 1 each year

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.

For more information contact  Don or Frances Hall, Youth Activities Chairpersons.

Student Information:

Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay, to our Post.
 
*Historically, the theme (annually chosen by the VFW commander-in-chief) is purposely kept broad in scope to allow the participant flexibility in interpretation to encourage originality. Since the VFW is a patriotic organization, the annual theme always will be related to patriotism.

The District Winner must be mailed to:
Don Hall
Department Patriot's Pen Chairman
VFW Department Headquarters
403 Lee Jackson Highway
Staunton, Virginia 24401
and must be in my (Don Hall) hands before midnight January 5, 2009

Be sure you send all of the information that is needed:
1. The official student entry form
2. The typed essay
3. A head and shoulders photo of the winner (not computer or faxed generated)
4. Both (2) completed District Report Forms

There is no time allowed for follow-up phone calls so none will be made. If you do not have all of the information requested, your District Winner will not be eligible.

Departmental Awards:

1st Place Winner: Student will receive $500.00 and be expected to attend the Winner Council Meeting to read their essay and receive the award.
2nd Place Winner: Student will receive $300.00, which the Department will mail.
3rd Place Winner: Student will receive $200.00, which the Department will mail.

Although not required the sponsoring Post/Auxillary will be expected to provide one (1) nights lodging and one (1) banquet ticket for the Departmental Winner at the Winter Conference.