VFW Voice of Democracy 2022-2023
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Established in 1947. The annual Brainerd VFW Voice of Democracy competition is for students in grades 9 - 12 living within 50 miles of Brainerd, Minnesota. It is a 3 to 5 minute written and spoken essay. Judging is based on originality, content and delivery. Local prizes are $200, $250, and $300. Nationally $35,000. |
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American Journalist Charles Kuralt was once a winner of the VFW's Voice of Democracy competition when he was a young man.
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Congratulations to Scotland Stewart from Franklin County High School in Winchester, Tennessee. He received a $30,000 scholarship for his 2022 - 2023 Voice of Democracy entry.
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The theme for the 2022-2023 competition was "Why is the Veteran Important."
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Siri Corson, from Fillmore Central High School in Harmony, MN, was the first-place 2022-2023 state winner. She received $2000 at the Minnesota Midwinter Convention. Siri also took second place in national VFW competition for a $21,000 scholarship.
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November 3, 2022: Craig Coonan of Brainerd was the 2022 - 2023 first place $300 winner in the annual Brainerd VFW Voice of Democracy competition. Craig is in 10th grade at Brainerd High School. Some of his relatives were in the military and he plans to join the U. S. Marines after graduation.
Craig Coonan
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Craig Coonan
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Why Is the Veteran Important?
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Five times a day, every single day, there are people six thousand miles away who pray to their God for the destruction of the people of the United States of America. They do not care what you think, they do not care what you believe, they do not care if you have families or friends, they do not care if you are Christian or Jew, Hindu or Buddhist, they do not care if you are tall or short, black or white, democrat or republican, man or women, they do not care.
Brave is too insignificant a word to describe the men and women who have fought these people face to face. Who have dared to enlist, fight, and die for our safety and freedom. These courageous people are in our midst. They have taken shrapnel, and bullets, they have been burned and have broken bones, and they have sustained injuries you cannot even imagine. They have served for you. They have fought for you. They have died for you. This is why the veterans of the United States of America matter. This is why we need to honor them. They are the ones who maintain your freedom. Your freedom to speak. Your freedom to write. Your freedom to believe and to do what you want.
Bravery and sacrifice are at the core of all of our veterans. They have fought through the fields and cities of France and Germany, the jungles of Vietnam and South America, the deserts of Africa and Kuwait, the mountains of Afghanistan, the skies above, and the seas below. They have sniped and stabbed, they have thrown grenades and kicked in doors, they have dug trenches and launched mortars, they have interrogated and planned, some have been taken hostage and some have been executed, and some, have not returned. This is bravery, knowing hell is yet to come, and still joining the ranks with the bravest people in the United States. These are our grandparents, our aunts, our uncles, our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, and our sisters. These are the people that deserve our everlasting love, respect, and most of all, our gratitude. They sacrificed so much fighting for us. They left their beautiful country, their friends, their families, and their children, to go fight for us, knowing full well they may never return home alive. They have lost so much more than we can ever imagine. They have lost friends, mentors, leaders, arms, and legs. They have gained memories that haunt their every thought. They sacrificed these, for us.
All of our veterans, whether they served in the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, or the Space Force, whether they shot a gun or filled in paperwork, whether they drove tanks or flew drones, whether they fixed helicopters or designed bombs, whether they deployed or were in the reserves, whether they were drafted or they joined of their own free will, we will be forever grateful for their service to their country. They have fought for all the freedoms, rights, and liberties that we take for granted, but let us never forget those whose lives were lost, a sacrifice to this great country.
As Lee Greenwood said, "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me."
Brave is too insignificant a word to describe the men and women who have fought these people face to face. Who have dared to enlist, fight, and die for our safety and freedom. These courageous people are in our midst. They have taken shrapnel, and bullets, they have been burned and have broken bones, and they have sustained injuries you cannot even imagine. They have served for you. They have fought for you. They have died for you. This is why the veterans of the United States of America matter. This is why we need to honor them. They are the ones who maintain your freedom. Your freedom to speak. Your freedom to write. Your freedom to believe and to do what you want.
Bravery and sacrifice are at the core of all of our veterans. They have fought through the fields and cities of France and Germany, the jungles of Vietnam and South America, the deserts of Africa and Kuwait, the mountains of Afghanistan, the skies above, and the seas below. They have sniped and stabbed, they have thrown grenades and kicked in doors, they have dug trenches and launched mortars, they have interrogated and planned, some have been taken hostage and some have been executed, and some, have not returned. This is bravery, knowing hell is yet to come, and still joining the ranks with the bravest people in the United States. These are our grandparents, our aunts, our uncles, our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, and our sisters. These are the people that deserve our everlasting love, respect, and most of all, our gratitude. They sacrificed so much fighting for us. They left their beautiful country, their friends, their families, and their children, to go fight for us, knowing full well they may never return home alive. They have lost so much more than we can ever imagine. They have lost friends, mentors, leaders, arms, and legs. They have gained memories that haunt their every thought. They sacrificed these, for us.
All of our veterans, whether they served in the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, or the Space Force, whether they shot a gun or filled in paperwork, whether they drove tanks or flew drones, whether they fixed helicopters or designed bombs, whether they deployed or were in the reserves, whether they were drafted or they joined of their own free will, we will be forever grateful for their service to their country. They have fought for all the freedoms, rights, and liberties that we take for granted, but let us never forget those whose lives were lost, a sacrifice to this great country.
As Lee Greenwood said, "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me."
Jagger Klecatsky
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November 3, 2022: Jagger Klecatsky of East Gull Lake took second place in Brainerd VFW competition for $250. Jagger is a 10th grader at the Brainerd High School.
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November 3, 2022: Haleyrose Blowers from Motley, MN, is the third-place winner in Brainerd VFW competition for $200. Haleyrose is a 9th grader at the Pillager High School.
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November 3, 2022: An Honorable Mention, at the Brainerd VFW, goes to Argenis Knight Solorzano of Deerwood. He is in 12th grade at the Crosby-Ironton High School.
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(l-r) Danny Wild and Mac interviewing Mark Persons on KLIZ-FM Radio on 09/23/2022
2022-2023 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2021-2022 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2020-2021 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2019-2020 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2018-2019 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2017-2018 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2016-2017 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2015-2016 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2021-2022 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2020-2021 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2019-2020 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2018-2019 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2017-2018 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2016-2017 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
2015-2016 VFW Voice of Democracy National Winner
4th and 5th graders participate in the Essay Competition
Students in grades 6 - 8 competed in the Patriot's Pen competition
Scouts K-12 compete for Scout of the Year
Students in grades 6 - 8 competed in the Patriot's Pen competition
Scouts K-12 compete for Scout of the Year
