VFW patriotic scholarship contest entries due Oct. 31

Commander Bill Wood of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7447 Rehoboth Beach announced the kickoff of the VFW’s 2022-23 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Scholarship patriotic audio and essay competitions.

Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the premier Veterans of Foreign Wars scholarship program. Each year, nearly 80,000 high school students in ninth to 12th grades compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is Why is the Veteran Important?

The VFW enacted the Patriot’s Pen competition in 1995 to encourage young minds to examine America’s history along with their own experiences in modern American society by composing a 300- to 400-word patriotic-themed essay. This year’s theme for the essay competition is My Pledge to Our Veterans. Area middle school students in sixth through eighth grades can have the chance to win thousands of dollars in national awards.

Students begin by competing at the local post level. Post winners advance to district competition, with district winners advancing to the state competition. State first-place winners compete for their share of thousands of dollars in awards and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Entry deadline for both contests is Monday, Oct. 31.

To request applications, email rehobothvfw@aol.com.

For details, go to vfw.org.