Each year, more than 800,600 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 more than $1 million in local and national awards. Each first place VFW Department (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.
The 2026-27 theme is: “What a Veteran Taught Me About America.”
Students interested in participating must submit their essay prepared on this year’s theme, with a completed 2026-2027 entry form, to Sgt Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805 in O’Fallon, Illinois. Applications must be turned no later than midnight on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
The VFW Post Level Patriot’s Pen winner Ms. Locklyn Endsley and her family are being presented a certificate by Commander Darren Hlava on 02 December 2025.
Previous Post Level Winners
2025 – Locklyn Endsley
2024 –
2023 –
2022 –
2021 –
2020 –