Entries Closed - Enter Early Next Year!
The 2023-24 theme is:
"How Are You Inspired by America?"
Each year, nearly 68,800 students in
sixth through eighth grades 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. Each first place state winner receives a
minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place
winner wins $5,000!
Make sure to have a picture for entries going to the State competition.
In Gwinnett
Our chairman is Robert Spidel of Post 4180. You can reach him at VFW4180@GMAIL.COM
State Awards
- State Winner receives $500 and a plaque. This entry is submitted to VFW National for the national competition.
- Second place receives $200 and a certificate.
- Third place receives $100 and a certificate.
Eligibility
6th, 7th, and 8th grade
students properly enrolled in public, private, parochial, or home
schools in Georgia. Foreign Exchange students and former winners that
placed in the National finals are excluded.
National Award
First place winner receives $5,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC.
Where to Start? Look for the Patriot's Pen in the Scholar's app as well as at VFW.org/PatriotsPen
Deadlines
- Entry to Post by October 31
- Post judging completed by November 15
- Post updates to All-American Dashboard November 15
- District Judging completed by December 1
- District approves Post reports on All American dashboard by December 1
- State Judging completed by December 31
- State winners to National by January 15
