The VFW Post 7507 has announced the opening of the Patriot’s Pen and the Voice of Democracy essay contests. Last year, Eli Brandsetter, Whitney Carponelli and Mikaela Smith (not pictured) won the local essay contests.
Times Independent file photo
Every year, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) sponsors essay contest programs that encourage young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society.
The 2025-2026 theme for both the Patriot’s Pen and the Voice of Democracy programs is, “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”
The Patriot’s Pen essay contest is for students in grades six through eight and involves writing a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on the patriotic theme.
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The VFW Post 7507 has announced the opening of the Patriot’s Pen and the Voice of Democracy essay contests. Last year, Eli Brandsetter, Whitney Carponelli and Mikaela Smith (not pictured) won the local essay contests.
Posted
Every year, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) sponsors essay contest programs that encourage young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society.
The 2025-2026 theme for both the Patriot’s Pen and the Voice of Democracy programs is, “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”
The Patriot’s Pen essay contest is for students in grades six through eight and involves writing a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on the patriotic theme.
This contest provides students with a chance to win monetary awards. Each first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 and the national first-place winner wins $5,000.
The Voice of Democracy is an audio essay contest where students in grades nine through 12 submit a three-to-five-minute audio recording (with a written transcript) expressing their view on the same theme. The national winner gets a $35,000 college scholarship.
Essays are due to Post 7507 by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. This Patriot’s Pen essay contest and the Voice of Democracy audio-essay contest are open to all students, whether home-schooled, or in public, charter or private schools. Students do not need to be residents of Fountain Hills to submit their entry to VFW Post 7507.
VFW Post 7507 is the local Fountain Hills, Verde Communities and north Scottsdale sponsor for this program.
Past All-State-Post Commander Boe James is this year’s program chair. For more information, contact him at 480-836-5520 or by email at VFW7507@yahoo.com.
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