Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy

Media Officer Michael Pfannenstiel - 1/23/2023

Voice Of Democracy

Created in 1947, the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school and home schooled students in grades 9-12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The program is directed by VFW National Headquarters and supported at the VFW Department (state) and local Post level. This years theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief is;

"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

 The entry deadline for the 2023-2024 program is October 31, 2023.

VFW Post 3377 strongly supports the VOD program. We offer scholarships totaling $3000.00 distributed between the Post’s 1st ($1500), 2nd ($1000), and 3rd Place ($500) winners. The 1st Place winner from Post 3377 is then automatically entered into the next level of competition at the District level winners then proceed the Department level and then the VFW National level where the 1st Place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship.  For additional information, contact Voice of Democracy chairman vacant or send an email to quartermaster3377_2023@outlook.com or call the Post 512-297-2205.  Or  click this link.  https://txvfw.org/voice-of-democracy/ 

 Patriots Pen

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

Each year, nearly 68,800 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 $1.4 million in state and national awards. Students begin by competing at the local Post level. 

The I.P. "Sarge” Bell Memorial Post 3377 Post judges all essays submitted to us and choose our Post winners.  We award the first-place winner $200, second place $150, and third place $100.  The Post 3377 first place winner competes in the VFW District 28 competition and the VFW District 28 winner competes in the VFW Department of Texas contest against all other District winners and the Department winner competes against all other state winners. The first-place winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level. The national first-place winner receives $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.

The 2023-2024 theme is:  "How are you inspired by America?”

To qualify, all entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight October 31, 2023.

VFW Post 3377 strongly supports the Patriots Pen program. For additional information, contact Post Patriot's Pen Chairman Jim Linville (jalinvil@gmail.com) or you may send an email to quartermaster3377_2023@outlook.com or by calling (512) 297-2205‬.  click here.