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, along with a completed 2025-2026 entry form, to this Post. Get the Patriot's Pen rules and the 2025-2026 Entry Form here. Applications must be turned into the Post by midnight on Oct. 31.
