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Patriot's Pen
September 2019: The 2019 VFW Patriot's Pen writing competition is for students in grades 6 - 8. Write a 300 – 400 word essay. Winners share $55,000 in prize money from the local and the national Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The theme this year is "What Makes America Great." Put the Patriot's Pen entry on paper and a digital file on a thumb drive or disc. Include a completed entry form, which is available for download on this page. A photo is helpful.
Drop off entries at the Brainerd VFW, 309 South 6th Street, Brainerd, MN. The hours are noon to 10 pm Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 pm on Sunday. Deadline for submission is October 31, 2019.
The local Brainerd VFW contact is Mark Persons, 218-829-1326 teki@mwpersons.com
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The 2018 Patriot's Pen essay writing competition at the Brainerd VFW resulted in 54 entries from students in grades 6 to 9.
The theme was, Why I Honor the American Flag.
The theme was, Why I Honor the American Flag.
1st Place, Vanessa Anderson, Nisswa, MN. 7th grade in Forestview Middle School:
The American flag isn’t just a piece of cloth attached to a pole or a decoration to put outside. It’s more than just something to look at during the national anthem. From the symbol of glory and pride to the representation of America, there are so many ways you could think of our flag. I think the American flag is the emblem of the hardships we had to overcome and the bravery we’ve showed through troublesome times. For example, after so many lives were lost in The Battle of the Alamo, Americans didn’t give up. We remembered the bravery of the men who died and kept on fighting for them. In 9/11, the first responders were the heroes, and their bravery saved so many innocent Americans. They risked their own lives to save others. That’s what the American flag stands for. From the 13 broad stripes to the 50 bright stars, from the old glory blue to the red and white stripes, the American flag is a piece of our country’s history. What other country has had men die just to keep their flag standing? What other country has their anthem written about the glory of their flag? I honor our flag because it represents our struggles and victories for freedom, the democracy of our country, the 50 different states, our independence from Great Britain, our influence over the rest of the world, and our perseverance through tough times. But most of all, I honor the American flag because of the people who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to defend it. Fighting, scheming, planning, and sometimes even dying, these courageous people are the reason our flag is still standing today. They defended our country with hardiness and valor, purity and innocence, vigilance, perseverance and justice, all of which are represented in the colors of our flag. Without all our veterans, living or deceased, young or old, in service or retired, our glorious Star-Spangled Banner would only exist in memories. The American flag is so much more than just another ordinary flag hung on a flag post, flying just beneath the clouds. Our flag is the heart and soul of America.
The American flag isn’t just a piece of cloth attached to a pole or a decoration to put outside. It’s more than just something to look at during the national anthem. From the symbol of glory and pride to the representation of America, there are so many ways you could think of our flag. I think the American flag is the emblem of the hardships we had to overcome and the bravery we’ve showed through troublesome times. For example, after so many lives were lost in The Battle of the Alamo, Americans didn’t give up. We remembered the bravery of the men who died and kept on fighting for them. In 9/11, the first responders were the heroes, and their bravery saved so many innocent Americans. They risked their own lives to save others. That’s what the American flag stands for. From the 13 broad stripes to the 50 bright stars, from the old glory blue to the red and white stripes, the American flag is a piece of our country’s history. What other country has had men die just to keep their flag standing? What other country has their anthem written about the glory of their flag? I honor our flag because it represents our struggles and victories for freedom, the democracy of our country, the 50 different states, our independence from Great Britain, our influence over the rest of the world, and our perseverance through tough times. But most of all, I honor the American flag because of the people who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to defend it. Fighting, scheming, planning, and sometimes even dying, these courageous people are the reason our flag is still standing today. They defended our country with hardiness and valor, purity and innocence, vigilance, perseverance and justice, all of which are represented in the colors of our flag. Without all our veterans, living or deceased, young or old, in service or retired, our glorious Star-Spangled Banner would only exist in memories. The American flag is so much more than just another ordinary flag hung on a flag post, flying just beneath the clouds. Our flag is the heart and soul of America.
2nd Place, Ella Ostrowski of Brainerd, 7th grade at Forestview Middle School:
The American Flag is a beautiful symbol of our freedom. The fifty stars symbolize all fifty states of the Union. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen British Colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom Of Great Britain. The red symbolizes hardiness and valor. The white symbolizes purity and innocence while the blue symbolizes perseverance,vigilance, and justice. What a brilliant and meaningful flag our country has. As long as the American Flag is soaring high up in the sky, we have the privilege to praise and worship whomever or whatever we choose. We have the freedom to speak our mind when we feel the need to. The American Flag helps us to see the future and the beauty our country has. The American Flag won’t judge you by your skin color or the way you look, the American Flag will remind you of the men and women that are risking their lives for our country. There are soldiers from all fifty states filled with hardiness and valor. The soldiers fight for our flag and they fight for our freedom. The soldiers that go into battle just for us make up all colors of the American Flag. The American Flag has changed and developed in many ways, and so has our country. The American Flag has changed in appearance and meaning. The flag started out with only thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. That flag represented the thirteen states in the Union. It has now evolved to have fifty stars and thirteen stripes. Adding those thirty-seven states now meant that the United States of America had expanded from Atlantic to Pacific. The United States has reached from sea to shining sea. Having fifty states shows the world how strong America is and how much we have grown throughout the life of the United States of America. The American Flag is not just a cloth with stars and stripes on it, it is a symbol of our freedom and should be treated with care. We should now honor the American flag and the people who fought and are currently fighting for us as we join together for the saying of The Pledge Of Allegiance, “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States Of America, and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
The American Flag is a beautiful symbol of our freedom. The fifty stars symbolize all fifty states of the Union. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen British Colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom Of Great Britain. The red symbolizes hardiness and valor. The white symbolizes purity and innocence while the blue symbolizes perseverance,vigilance, and justice. What a brilliant and meaningful flag our country has. As long as the American Flag is soaring high up in the sky, we have the privilege to praise and worship whomever or whatever we choose. We have the freedom to speak our mind when we feel the need to. The American Flag helps us to see the future and the beauty our country has. The American Flag won’t judge you by your skin color or the way you look, the American Flag will remind you of the men and women that are risking their lives for our country. There are soldiers from all fifty states filled with hardiness and valor. The soldiers fight for our flag and they fight for our freedom. The soldiers that go into battle just for us make up all colors of the American Flag. The American Flag has changed and developed in many ways, and so has our country. The American Flag has changed in appearance and meaning. The flag started out with only thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. That flag represented the thirteen states in the Union. It has now evolved to have fifty stars and thirteen stripes. Adding those thirty-seven states now meant that the United States of America had expanded from Atlantic to Pacific. The United States has reached from sea to shining sea. Having fifty states shows the world how strong America is and how much we have grown throughout the life of the United States of America. The American Flag is not just a cloth with stars and stripes on it, it is a symbol of our freedom and should be treated with care. We should now honor the American flag and the people who fought and are currently fighting for us as we join together for the saying of The Pledge Of Allegiance, “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States Of America, and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
3rd Place, Emma Moore of Pillager, MN, 7th grade at Lake Region Christian School:
To many people, the American flag is just a simple flag that waves around in the air. To others, There is deep meaning in the American flag. Some have seen it since they were five; others are just seeing it now. I honor the American flag because I know it is a sign of freedom for America. Many people dont have the freedom that we do. I also honor the American flag because I know some of what our country has gone through, and the stories of what has happened to our flag.
In many paintings from way back in the 1700s, many have the American flag somewhere in the background of the painting. Signing the Constitution, painted by Howard Chandler Christy, the American flag is included in the painting. Lots of people might say "Oh, that flag is just decoration." But no! The American flag has a special meaning to it! People may wonder, "Why is that flag red, white, and blue and why are there so many stars?" Well, the red stripes mean hardiness and valor, the white stripes mean purity and innocence. The blue in the box with the stars signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The fifty white stars symbolize dominion and sovereignty. Our flag was first authorized by Congress on June 14, 1777! This date is now on our calendars and is known as Flag Day. So many people forget about Flag Day until someone or something reminds them. Our flag has gone through some pretty tough things. Like in wars, out flag would get ripped and catch fire, ( but we never gave up hope.) Even when our "Star-Spangled Banner" was being written, our country was at war and our flag was most definitely struggling, but we never lost our courage or gave up hope. Many people died fighting for the freedoms that our flag stands for.
I honor the American flag because it symbolizes MY country and I am very proud to be an American, and to be happy and free.
To many people, the American flag is just a simple flag that waves around in the air. To others, There is deep meaning in the American flag. Some have seen it since they were five; others are just seeing it now. I honor the American flag because I know it is a sign of freedom for America. Many people dont have the freedom that we do. I also honor the American flag because I know some of what our country has gone through, and the stories of what has happened to our flag.
In many paintings from way back in the 1700s, many have the American flag somewhere in the background of the painting. Signing the Constitution, painted by Howard Chandler Christy, the American flag is included in the painting. Lots of people might say "Oh, that flag is just decoration." But no! The American flag has a special meaning to it! People may wonder, "Why is that flag red, white, and blue and why are there so many stars?" Well, the red stripes mean hardiness and valor, the white stripes mean purity and innocence. The blue in the box with the stars signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The fifty white stars symbolize dominion and sovereignty. Our flag was first authorized by Congress on June 14, 1777! This date is now on our calendars and is known as Flag Day. So many people forget about Flag Day until someone or something reminds them. Our flag has gone through some pretty tough things. Like in wars, out flag would get ripped and catch fire, ( but we never gave up hope.) Even when our "Star-Spangled Banner" was being written, our country was at war and our flag was most definitely struggling, but we never lost our courage or gave up hope. Many people died fighting for the freedoms that our flag stands for.
I honor the American flag because it symbolizes MY country and I am very proud to be an American, and to be happy and free.
Students in grades 9 - 12 are eligible to compete in the VFW's Voice of Democracy. They write and read an essay.
