Patriots Pen

What is the Patriots Pens Program?

Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an anuual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 60,000 students who partcipated last year in this contest.

“What a Veteran Taught Me About America”

Deadline for Entry

All entries competing at the Post level must be in the hands of the VFW Post by midnight, Oct 31, 2026. It is the responsibility of the student to meet this deadline by submitting their entry via the proper method, shown below. Only one entry per student is allowed.

Post 2514 Submission

Submission Requirements

Ensure you have the following files readily available for upload.

Text File (PDF File, typed essay)

Judging Criteria

Knowlege of theme (30 points)
Theme development (35 points)
Clarity of ideas (30 points)

Entry Form

National PP Brochure

This brochure PDF is for informational purposes only and is not required for submission at the Post Level. After the Post selection process, the winner will then be required to fill out this form, which will be completed in person at the Post.

PatriotsPenBrochure.pdf

The Rules

• You must write your own essay.

• 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.

• In no way may contestants identify themselves with in 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 essays cover sheet. Secure the Official Student Entry Form with a staple or other fastener on top of your essay. Contestants are allowed to enter only once each year if otherwise eligible (one Post competition).

• The essay must be contestant’s original work and a product of the contestant’s own thinking. Inappropriate use of ChatGPT or other AI tools is not allowed. 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 Veteran’s of Foreign Wars. The VFW retains non-exclusive rights to the use of your essay and likeness in the promotion and execution of the organization’s programs and activities.

You may enter only one competition at one Post (if otherwise eligible) per year. At any time during the contest, additional participant personal information could be requested by the VFW, including but not limited to a photograph, SSN, or biographical information.

Submission & Advancement

How to Enter

Record your original 3-5 minute (+ or – 5 second max.) audio in MP3 format (no videos) on a flash drive, or other electronic device. You will submit the recording, typed essay and required information via the submission method shown above.

All entries begin 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 VFW Post. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the Post.

Judging Criteria

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 who, what, where, when and why. Related the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of ideas is worth 30 points:

Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear undertanding of your explanation of the theme.

Advancement

Decisions of Judges at all levels are final. One winner for every 15 entries from each Post advances to District and one District winner advances to the state (Department) competition. Contact the post where you entered at to check on your advancement.

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