VFW-Patriots
Pen- New Jersey -District 11-Post 10065
Patriot's
Pen
Each
year, more than 60,600 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the
VFW’s Patriot’s Pen® annual
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. Students interested in participating must submit their
essay prepared on this year's theme, with a completed 2026-2027 entry form, to their local
participating VFW Post. Find your sponsoring local VFW
Post as applications must be turned in by midnight,
Oct. 31.