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VFW Patriot's Pen |
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The VFW Patriot's Pen completion is for students living within 50 miles of Brainerd, MN. It is writing a 300 to 400 word essay from students in grades 6 - 8.
The 2021-2022 theme is "How Can I Be Good American?"
The 2021-2022 theme is "How Can I Be Good American?"
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Entries must include:
1. A completed entry form.
2. The essay document in digital form. .doc is preferred. Do not send a .pdf
3. A photo of the person.
Send or drop off a thumb drive or CD to the Brainerd VFW, 309 South 6th Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 or email to teki@mwpersons.com
The entry deadline is October 31, 2021.
Local prizes are $100.00, 150.00 and $200.00. $55,000 in prizes are given nationally by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Winning entries will be displayed on the Brainerd VFW website and will be sent to news media.
1. A completed entry form.
2. The essay document in digital form. .doc is preferred. Do not send a .pdf
3. A photo of the person.
Send or drop off a thumb drive or CD to the Brainerd VFW, 309 South 6th Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 or email to teki@mwpersons.com
The entry deadline is October 31, 2021.
Local prizes are $100.00, 150.00 and $200.00. $55,000 in prizes are given nationally by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Winning entries will be displayed on the Brainerd VFW website and will be sent to news media.
April 1, 2021: The 2020-2021 theme was "What is Patriotism to me?" The first place national VFW Patriot Pen winner was Wyatt Perkins, from Maryville, North Dakota. He was awarded $5,000. Fourth place was Julianna Stacey, from Long Prairie, MN. Her prize was $2,750. She placed fourth in national competition.
The 2020-2021 First Place winner at the Brainerd VFW was Alex Lelwica, an 8th grader at St. Francis of the Lakes School in Brainerd. His essay was entered into the Minnesota 6th District Patriot's Pen competition. The theme: "What is Patriotism to Me?"
Alex Lelwica
Patriotism to me is being proud to be a part of a country. For example, I'm proud to live in The United States of America where we get to choose who leads us and where we get to live freely. We have brave men and woman who fight for us and this is when you know you have something good. That is something that people are willing to fight and die for.
One of the many privileges of living in this amazing nation is the ability to elect our leaders. We get to decide who we want to make laws on our behalf. Therefore, our leaders are a representation of who we are as a people. We should learn to be accepting of the mistakes our leaders make. That to me is patriotism. It is where we can devote ourselves to building our country and voting to make it what you want it to be.
Another privilege is the ability to do what we want. We are given so many rights in this country that people take for granted. Even the content of the newspaper is a gift granted by our government that a lot of countries don’t enjoy. We live in a place where we get to decide what we do with our life and it isn’t controlled by other people. That to me is patriotism. To be free and still use that freedom to love your country as citizens.
A third privilege is that there are men and woman in foreign lands that put their lives on the line to protect all citizens rights. They constantly put themselves in danger for us. I’m honored to live in a country that is so good people are willing to die for it. When we are trying to be stopped from freeing people and letting everyone be equals, we still fight back no matter what. All this is patriotism to me. We live in a country so great that amazing men and woman are willing to put themselves in danger and die for this nation!
Overall patriotism to me isn’t one individual thing. It is everything. From the little to big things that together make me so proud of The United States of America. It is the people that make this country something to be proud of. This all is patriotism to me.
One of the many privileges of living in this amazing nation is the ability to elect our leaders. We get to decide who we want to make laws on our behalf. Therefore, our leaders are a representation of who we are as a people. We should learn to be accepting of the mistakes our leaders make. That to me is patriotism. It is where we can devote ourselves to building our country and voting to make it what you want it to be.
Another privilege is the ability to do what we want. We are given so many rights in this country that people take for granted. Even the content of the newspaper is a gift granted by our government that a lot of countries don’t enjoy. We live in a place where we get to decide what we do with our life and it isn’t controlled by other people. That to me is patriotism. To be free and still use that freedom to love your country as citizens.
A third privilege is that there are men and woman in foreign lands that put their lives on the line to protect all citizens rights. They constantly put themselves in danger for us. I’m honored to live in a country that is so good people are willing to die for it. When we are trying to be stopped from freeing people and letting everyone be equals, we still fight back no matter what. All this is patriotism to me. We live in a country so great that amazing men and woman are willing to put themselves in danger and die for this nation!
Overall patriotism to me isn’t one individual thing. It is everything. From the little to big things that together make me so proud of The United States of America. It is the people that make this country something to be proud of. This all is patriotism to me.
2nd place, Elizabeth Sarvie, 8th grade Brainerd
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3rd place, Margaret Ringhand, 7th grade Brainerd
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January 18, 2020: Thea Bothun of Rochester, MN, was selected as the 2019-2020 MN state winner of the Patriot's Pen competition. She was very well spoken at the MN VFW Mid-Winter Conference and should do well in the future.
2020-2021 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2019-2020 National youth scholarship winners
2018-2019 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2017-2018 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2016-2017 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2015-2016 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2019-2020 National youth scholarship winners
2018-2019 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2017-2018 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2016-2017 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
2015-2016 VFW National Patriot's Pen Winner
5th graders participate in the Essay Competition
Students in grades 9 - 12 are eligible to compete in the VFW's Voice of Democracy
Scouts K-12 compete for the Scout of the Year Award
Students in grades 9 - 12 are eligible to compete in the VFW's Voice of Democracy
Scouts K-12 compete for the Scout of the Year Award
