Patriot's Pen
Each year, nearly 70,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $55,000 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.
2023-2024 Theme
"How Are You Inspired by America?"
Entry Deadline: October 31, 2023
All rules and eligibility requirements can be found on the entry form:
We would like to highlight the following:
Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled by the Oct. 31 deadline in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions. Home-schooled students also are eligible.
VFW’s Commander-in-Chief annually chooses the year’s theme. The 2023-2024 theme is: “How Are You Inspired by America?”
All essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics. 300 – 400 words in length (+ or – 5 word max). Every word is counted regardless of length. The essay title (theme) or added footnotes do not contribute to the word count.
We ask that you include a headshot of yourself with your submission.
In no way may contestants identify themselves within their essay (including, but not limited to, your name, school, city, state, race or national origin.) Do not put your name on the essay. The entry form is your essay’s cover sheet. If mailed, secure the Official Student Entry Form with a staple or other fastener on top of your essay. You may also submit everything using the form on this page. Contestants are allowed to enter only once each year if otherwise eligible (one Post competition).
The essay must be the 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.
We look forward to reading your essay. If you choose to mail in your submission, please use the following address, and be sure it will arrive no later than October 31, 2023:
VFW – Post 1375
P.O. Box 325
Chadron, NE 69337