2025-2026 THEME: 

"How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”

WHAT IS THE PATRIOT’S PEN?

Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 73,000 students who participated last year in this contest.  

WHO CAN ENTER?

Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled by the Oct. 31 deadline in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. (Foreign exchange students are ineligible.)

Department (State) Awards:

First, second, and third place state winners will receive awards presented by State Chairman at the Mid-Winter Conference.

Patriot's Pen entries must be submitted to a local VFW Post by midnight, October 31st.

Click here to view the Rules & Eligibility Requirements and download the current year Entry Form: Patriots-Pen-Entry-Form-Fillable.pdf

 Contact our State Patriot's Pen Chairman for more information:

Carl Karnish

Email: adj@vfwla.net