For Ninth through 12th Grade Students
The 2025-26 theme is:
“How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”
About
Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 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 submit your application to VFW Post 10018 as applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31.
How to Enter
All essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics and 300 – 400 words in length (+ or – 5 word max). The essay must be 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. The body of the essay must not identify you in any way, (including, but not limited to your name, school, city, state, race, or national origin) 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. Use of ChatGPT or other AI tools is not allowed. Students can ask a teacher or youth group leader to supervise their progress in the competition.
How Am I Judged?
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.
Prizes at Post, District, State, and National Levels!
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