WHAT IS THE PATRIOTS PEN PROGRAM? – Conducted nationwide, this VFW sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy This year’s theme is: When Is The Right Time To Honor Our Military Heroes?

Download your entry form here…

WHY SHOULD I ENTER? – The top 45 national winners all receive at least a $1,000 savings bond. The first-place award is currently a $10,000 savings bond plus an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and a parent or guardian.

THE RULES
Who can enter? – Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools can participate too. (Foreign exchange students and former winners that placed in the National finals are excluded from the contest.)

What do I need to enter? – All essays should be typewritten 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 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.

Where do I submit my entry? – To advance to the next level, all entries must be judged at the VFW Post level. VFW Post winners compete at the VFW District level.

Download your entry form here…

What is the deadline for my entry? – All entries competing at the Post level must be in the hands of that VFW Post by midnight, Nov. 1, 2009. It is the responsibility of the student to meet this deadline by submitting their entry to the proper location. If you have difficulty identifying a sponsoring Post in your area, call the Patriot’s Pen national office at: 1-816-756-3390, ext. 220 or e-mail: swilson@vfw.org.

HOW AM I JUDGED? – You will be judged on how well you understand, develop and present the theme. A positive approach is recommended to express your viewpoint.

Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points:
You must show a thorough knowledge of the them 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.

GOOD LUCK – Broomfield VFW Post 9565 and Auxiliary Officers and Members

WHAT IS THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY PROGRAM? – Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, more than 100,000 high school students compete for more than $2.5 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording a broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is: Does America Still Have Heroes?

Download your entry form here…

WHY SHOULD I ENTER? – Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the local, district, state and national level. Department (State) winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in April to tour the city, meet our nation’s leaders, be honored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary and receive their portion of $148,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $30,000.

THE RULES
Who can enter? – The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or in an overseas U.S. military/civilian dependent school. Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or over and previous Voice of Democracy first place state winners are ineligible.

What do I need to enter? – Record your original 3-5 minute (+ or – 5 seconds maximum) essay on a standard cassette tape or CD (record in .wav format) on this year’s theme. Label your cassette or CD and neatly typed essay with your name and complete the attached entry form. Provide these three items to your school/group competition or your local VFW Post for judging. All recordings must be in your own voice (hearing or speech impaired students should contact the Voice of Democracy National Office at 1-816-968-1117 for special instructions), without music, special effects or background sounds. Songs and poetry are not acceptable. You may not provide anything within the essay or recording that will identify you in any way. You may enter only one Voice of Democracy competition per year.

Where do I submit my entry? – To advance to the next level, all entries must be judged 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 local VFW Post competition. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the local VFW Post provided they have not competed at a school/class competition. VFW Post winners compete at the VFW District level.

Download your entry form here…

District winners compete at the VFW Department (state) level. Department winners receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete at the VFW National level. All winners must begin at the Post level. To identify a participating VFW Post in your area, call the Voice of Democracy National Office at 1-816-968-1117 or e-mail us at kharmer@vfw.org or visit our Web site at www.vfw.org.

What is the deadline for my entry? – All entries competing at the Post level must be in the hands of that VFW Post by midnight, Nov. 1, 2009. It is the responsibility of the student to meet this deadline by submitting their entry to the proper location.

WHAT ARE THE JUDGING CRITERIA?
Originality is worth 30 points:
Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest.

Content is worth 35 points:
Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to another.

Delivery is worth 35 points:
Speak in a clear and credible manner.

GOOD LUCK – Broomfield VFW Post 9565 and Auxiliary Officers and Members

Thank you to the Broomfield King Soopers and Safeway for allowing us to use your locations for our Buddy Poppy Drive.  Thanks to the Post Members who participated, and thanks to the everybody from BSA Troop 835 for your participation as well.  Last, but certainly not least, thanks to all of you who gave donations.  Please know that your donations will go along way in providing help to those Veterans who need it.

Remember, this is why we are here, to assist veterans, active duty service members, and their families.

WHAT IS THE PATRIOTS PEN PROGRAM? – Conducted nationwide, this VFW sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy This year’s theme is: Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored.

Download your entry form here…

WHY SHOULD I ENTER? – The top 45 national winners all receive at least a $1,000 savings bond. The first-place award is currently a $10,000 savings bond plus an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and a parent or guardian.

THE RULES
Who can enter? – Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools can participate too. (Foreign exchange students and former winners that placed in the National finals are excluded from the contest.)

What do I need to enter? – All essays should be typewritten 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 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.

Where do I submit my entry? – To advance to the next level, all entries must be judged at the VFW Post level. VFW Post winners compete at the VFW District level.

Download your entry form here…

What is the deadline for my entry? – All entries competing at the Post level must be in the hands of that VFW Post by midnight, Nov. 1, 2008. It is the responsibility of the student to meet this deadline by submitting their entry to the proper location. If you have difficulty identifying a sponsoring Post in your area, call the Patriot’s Pen national office at: (816) 756-3390, ext. 220 or e-mail: swilson@vfw.org.

HOW AM I JUDGED? – You will be judged on how well you understand, develop and present the theme. A positive approach is recommended to express your viewpoint.

Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points:
You must show a thorough knowledge of the them 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.

GOOD LUCK – Broomfield VFW Post 9565 and Auxiliary Officers and Members

WHAT IS THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY PROGRAM? – Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, more than 100,000 high school students compete for more than $2.5 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording a broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is: Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefit Today’s Youth by…

Download your entry form here…

WHY SHOULD I ENTER? – Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the local, district, state and national level. Department (State) winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in April to tour the city, meet our nation’s leaders, be honored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary and receive their portion of $148,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $30,000.

THE RULES
Who can enter? – The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or in an overseas U.S. military/civilian dependent school. Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or over and previous Voice of Democracy first place state winners are ineligible.

What do I need to enter? – Record your original 3-5 minute (+ or – 5 seconds) essay on a standard cassette tape or CD on this year’s theme. Label your cassette or CD and neatly typed essay with your name and complete the attached entry form. Provide these three items to your school/group competition or your local VFW Post for judging. All recordings must be in your own voice (hearing or speech impaired students should contact the Voice of Democracy National Office at (816) 968-1117 for special instructions), without music, special effects or background sounds. Songs and poetry are not acceptable. You may not provide anything in the essay or recording that will identify you in any way. You may enter only one Voice of Democracy competition per year.

Where do I submit my entry? – To advance to the next level, all entries must be judged 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 local VFW Post competition. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the local VFW Post provided they have not competed at a school/class competition. VFW Post winners compete at the VFW District level.

Download your entry form here…

District winners compete at the VFW Department (state) level. Department winners receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete at the VFW National level. All winners must begin at the Post level. To identify a participating VFW Post in your area, call the Voice of Democracy National Office at (816) 968-1117 or e-mail us at kharmer@vfw.org or visit our Web site at www.vfw.org.

What is the deadline for my entry? – All entries competing at the Post level must be in the hands of that VFW Post by midnight, Nov. 1, 2008. It is the responsibility of the student to meet this deadline by submitting their entry to the proper location.

WHAT ARE THE JUDGING CRITERIA? – Originality is worth 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest.

Content is worth 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to another.

Delivery is worth 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.