voice of democracy essay contest 2023

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

2024-2025 Theme Coming March 2024

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$15,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Want to apply?

2024-2025 Entry Form

VOD Deadlines:

Midnight, October 31, Entries to the Post

  December 13, District Winners due to Department Chairman

Rules and Eligibility Requirements: VOD Rules / Eligibility

Download the 2024-2025 VOD Entry Form here: Coming soon

Voice of Democracy National Awards List

DO NOT mail District entries and required forms to State Headquarters.  Mail them directly to the State Voice of Democracy Chairman!

POST PARTICIPATION REPORTING PACKET

DISTRICT PARTICIPATION REPORTING PACKET (by POST):

DISTRICT VOD / PP WINNER REPORT:

Click Here 

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VOICE OF DEMCRACY ESSAY CONTEST

2023-2024 Theme

"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

Student Entry Deadline: October 31, 2023

Patriotic Audio Essay Competition Grand Prize: $35,000 Award

VOD Entry Form

VOD Score Sheet

VFW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

At the turn of the 20th century, the founders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars created an organization that would honor and serve veterans and perpetuate the values and ideals for which those veterans had served.  Although men of vision, it is doubtful they could imagine the millions of Americans impacted today by the VFW’s youth, scholarship and recognition programs. Every year, tens of thousands of students nationwide participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition and the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest, garnering more than $3.2 million in scholarships, awards, and incentives.

Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition  The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition in 1946. The Veterans of Foreign Wars became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. Many notables have participated in the Voice of Democracy including journalist Charles Kuralt, Miss America Anita Bryant and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to write and record an audio essay on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2 million in college scholarships and incentives. Each first place Department (state) winner is brought to Washington, D.C. in March to enjoy our nation’s capital. 

VFW national Voice of Democracy scholarships have been raised $5k each, bringing the total national scholarship amount to   $171,000.  

1st Place $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship

2nd Place $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship

3rd Place $15,000 VFW Scholarship

Deadlines 2023-24

The deadlines for both Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen are as follows:

• Midnight, October 31 ,  Entries to the Post *
• November 15, Entries received at your District
• December 15, Entries received at Department
• December 15 , District participation reports to Department Chairmen**
• January 15 , Department winners to National*
• January 31 , Department reports to National*  

Post entries are required to include: Typed essay, an audio file of the recorded essay (3-5 minutes, +/- 5 seconds), and a student entry form completed legibly.  Please refer to the student Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen entry forms to review the complete rules and guidelines.

Address 1285BaringBlvd.#184 SparksNevada89434 Contact Us via Email Phone: 775-544-8786

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

DONATE TO LEE-PEARSON POST

Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.

Address 114 McCall Road Manhattan, KS 66502 Contact Us via Email Phone: 1(307)399-1663

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY (VOD)

2023-2024 Voice of Democracy (VOD) contest is open!      Under VFW’s Youth and Education umbrella, VFW hosts an annual oral-written essay contest for  high school students. It’s a great opportunity to exercise critical thinking, presentation, and writing skills!     THEME  "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?”   WHO CAN ENTER VOD is open to students in grades 9-12 enrolled in a public private or parochial high school or home study program.     HOW TO ENTER Record your original 3-5 minute (+ or – 5 second max.) audio essay on a flash drive, or other electronic device. You will submit the recording, typed essay and this completed entry form to the POC listed below.    APPLICATION   Fillable PDF  Application    DETAILED RULES & JUDGING CRITERIA Flyer   DUE DATE  October 31, 2023   POINT OF CONTACT  Suzzie Thomas, US Army Veteran Post 1533 Adjutant, JAG, and webmaster [email protected] cell: 805.535.9839   VFW YOUTH & EDUCATION Programs 

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

2023-2024 Voice of Democracy (High School Essay Contest)

"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy"

The VFW invites students in grades 9-12 to express themselves about democratic ideas and principles. The District winners will attend a banquet for VFW student scholarships in January where the top five essays are recognized and monetary prizes are awarded. The first-place student will present the winning essay and will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to join the other state winners for special activities. As part of this contest program, the VFW holds the Voice of Democracy Teacher of the Year Contest, which gives recognition to a teacher who encourages students to participate in the contest.

2023-2024 VOD Program Click Here

2023-2024 VOD Entry Form Click Here

2023-2024 VOD Perpetual Scholarship Form Click Here

The score sheet for judging can be found here .

 NOTE: PA has due dates different than those publicized by the National VFW!

       October 31, 2023- The student deadline for Entry is midnight.

       November 18, 2023 -Post judging completed.

       December 3, 2023    District judging completed.

       December 9, 2023, District Winner entry form, flash drive of essay, typed essay, head and shoulder photo of good quality, District summary report and District participation report must be sent to the Department Chairman: 

Thomas "Ace" Hanzes

VFW Post 7599 (28)

106 N. 16th Street

Greenville, PA.  16125

724-646-3072

[email protected]

December 11, 2023-Department judging 

January 15, 2024-Department Winner and Reports submitted to VFW National HQ

January 20, 2024-Annual Voice of Democracy Banquet-DoubleTree by Hilton-Pittsburgh Cranberry

Address 108 Culvert Hill Rd Shohola , PA 18458 Contact Us via Email Phone: 5706779222 Fax: 5702270362

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

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2022-23 VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Please be advised the top three VFW national Voice of Democracy scholarships have been raised $5k each, bringing the total national scholarship amount to $171,000 .

1st Place $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship

2nd Place $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship

3rd Place $15,000 VFW Scholarship

Voice of Democracy -- "Why is the Veteran Important?”

Address 3300 Constitution Drive Springfield, IL 62711 Contact Us via Email Phone: 217-529-6688 Fax: 217-546-3415

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Donate to department of new jersey.

Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.

Address 171 Jersey St, Bldg 5 2nd Floor Trenton NJ, NJ 08611 Contact Us via Email Phone: 609-393-1929 Fax: 609-393-3031

Ken Hagemann, USMC

State Adjutant/QM

Phone: 609-393-1929

Email:  [email protected]

Filipe Oliveira, NAVY

State Inspector

Email:  [email protected]

Helen Inirio, ARMY

Assistant to State Adjutant/QM

Membership/Bonds/Poppies

Email:  [email protected]

Deborah Donaghy, ARMY

Office Assistant

Email:  [email protected]

Meggan McFadden

Office Administrator

Email: [email protected]

Bob Weiss, USMC    

Department Veteran Service Officer

Phone: 609-393-1952

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #50928

Joshua Hansen, ARMY

Veterans Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]

VA Accreditation #43230

Charles Thorp, ARMY

Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53925

Mike Boll, USMC

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53920

Jaime Santiago, ARMY

Phone: 856-401-7660

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #51517

Gloucester County Veterans Affairs

211 County House Rd

Kevin O'Hora, USMC

Phone: 201-336-6329

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #49906

Bergen County Department of Human Services

One Bergen County Plaza - 2nd fl - Hackensack NJ

Shaun Hutchinson, ARMY

Phone: 201-336-6326

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #52036

Kevin Gynegrowski, ARMY

Phone: 201-336-7474

Email: [email protected]

VA Accreditation #56635

Denise Balderama, USMC/ARMY

Assistant Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #29542

Adrian Romero, ARMY

Outreach Coordinator

Phone: 609-569-2176

Email:  [email protected]

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 27,000 high school students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.5 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.  The national first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.   The 2023-24 theme is "What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?".  Want to apply?  Read the rules and eligibility requirement on the Entry Form below.   VOD/PP Chairman's Manual   VOD Entry Form and Requirements VOD District to Department Summary Sheet VOD District to Department Awards Form VOD Post Score Sheet   VOD-PP Donation Flyer

Address 3401 Knipp Dr. Jefferson City, MO 65109 Contact Us via Email Phone: 573-636-8761 Fax: 573-636-2664

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

The VFW  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves on a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 27,000 9th through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

In Michigan, one student from each of the VFW's 12 Districts will compete on the state level, each winning a minimum scholarship of $1,000. The State winner will go on to compete at the National level of judging.  The National first place winner will receive a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school of choice.

The Michigan 2024 Voice of Democracy winner was Eddy Holcomb , from Portland High School in VFW District 9 and submitted by VFW Post 4090!  He represented Michigan in Washington D.C., where his essay was judged against winners from all 53 VFW Departments.

2024-2025 Voice of Democracy Program 

Voice of Democracy Brochure and Entry Form

Michael Martin, Director

199 East 34 th St, Apt 2

Holland MI 49423

616-594-9151

[email protected]

Denise Arnold, Auxiliary Chair

9525 E River Rd

Mt Pleasant MI 48858

989-621-0327

[email protected]

Statewide News

Gary brown named vfw michigan member of the year, past department commander ray lopez presented gary brown with the vfw department of michigan member of the year award at the organization's annual state convention june 1, 2024., vfw michigan riders group shares motorcycle safety tips, in preparation for riding season, vfw michigan riders group director charlie cline shares some tips on safety while operating a motorcycle this summer., national news, vfw admonishes former president for medal of honor remarks, washington - "on thursday, former president donald trump spoke at an event where he made some flippant remarks about the medal of ..., vfw awards nearly $750,000 in scholarships to student veterans, kansas city, mo. - the veterans of foreign wars (vfw) is proud to announce 162 student veterans, including active duty and reserve....

Address 924 N Washington Ave Lansing, MI 48906 Contact Us via Email Phone: 517-485-9456 Fax: 517-485-6432

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Voice of Democracy Entry Form

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 57,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, Is America Today our Forefathers' Vision?

CRITERIA:   The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or over, previous Voice of Democracy first place state winners, GED or Adult Education Students are not eligible for entry.

HOW TO SUBMIT:  Record your original 3-5 minute (+ or – 5 second max.) audio essay on a flash drive, or other electronic device. You will submit the recording, typed essay and this completed entry form. Provide these items to your school/group competition or VFW Post for judging. In addition you can submit your emailed entry form, essay, and audio file to the VFW Post upon approval. You must be the sole author of your essay. Inappropriate use of Chat GPT or or other AI tools is not allowed. The recording must be in your own voice and in English. Hearing/speech impaired students should email the Voice of Democracy National Office at [email protected] for special instructions. No music, singing, poetry or sound effects are allowed. The body of the essay must not identify you in any way, (including, but not limited to your name, school, city, state, race, or national origin) although the recording & typed essay should be labeled with your name, to show ownership.

DEADLINES:  The following deadlines shall be adhered to:

• October 31, 2024 – Student entries to the Post 
• Address: 111 N. Hagar Street, San Fernando, CA 91340
• Email: [email protected] (Attention Post Commander)

LA VOZ DE LA DEMOCRACIA:  Establecido en 1947, el programa de ensayo de La Voz de la democracia del VFW  proporciona a los estudiantes de secundaria, grados 9-12, la oportunidad única de expresarse en lo que respecta a un ensayo grabado de 3-5 minutos basado en la  democracia y patria. Cada año miles de estudiantes de en todo el país participan para  ganar su parte de $2.1 millón en becas educativas e incentivos otorgados a través del  programa.  El ganador en primer lugar a nivel nacional recibe, una beca de $30,000 pagado  directamente a la Universidad Americana del beneficiario, Colegio o Escuela  Vocacional/Técnica. El ganador en primer lugar de cada departamento del VFW  compiten por becas que van desde un mínimo de $1,000 hasta $16,000 y un viaje con  todos los gastos pagados a Washington D. C.

¿DESEAS APLICAR? :   Por favor descargue el formulario de inscripción en la página web para obtener  detalles completos de La voz de la Democracia o para La Pluma del Patriota, criterios  de elegibilidad e instrucciones para completar el ensayo. Los formularios de  inscripción deben ser completados en inglés cuando se presenten con su ensayo.  Asegúrese de tener el formulario de entrada más actualizado con los temas actuales.

Address 111 N. Hagar St. San Fernando, CA 91340 Contact Us via Email Phone: 818-361-9003

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Youth Essay Deadline Quickly Approaching

All essay entries must be received at participating vfw posts by oct. 31.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Time is running out for students wishing to participate in the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen  essay competitions. Open to eligible high school and middle school students, all entries must be received at a local participating VFW Post no later than Oct. 31.

Open to eligible sixth through eighth grade students, nearly 68,800 students compete in the Patriot’s Pen essay competition each year to win their slice of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. The top individual VFW Department (state) winners are vying for the top prize of $5,000. This year’s Patriot’s Pen theme asks “How Are You Inspired by America?”

For more information on the VFW’s youth essay competitions and how to enter, visit vfw.org/YouthScholarships .

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Majority of US adults say democracy is on the ballot but they differ on the threat: AP-NORC poll

A poll shows that most Americans believe this year's presidential race will be crucial for the future of the country's democracy

NEW YORK -- Roughly 3 in 4 American adults believe the upcoming presidential election is vital to the future of U.S. democracy, although which candidate they think poses the greater threat depends on their political leanings, according to a poll.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that most Democrats, Republicans and independents see the election as “very important” or “extremely important” to democracy, while Democrats have a higher level of intensity about the issue. More than half of Democrats say the November election is “extremely important” to the future of U.S. democracy, compared to about 4 in 10 independents and Republicans.

Democrat Pamela Hanson, 67, of Amery, Wisconsin, said she has grave concerns for the future of democracy in the country if Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gets elected .

“His statements tend towards him being a king or a dictator, a person in charge by himself,” Hanson said. “I mean, the man is unhinged in my opinion.”

But Republican Ernie Wagner from Liberty, New York, said it's President Joe Biden's administration — of which Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, is a part — that has abused the power of the executive branch.

“Biden has tried to erase the student loans, and he’s been told by the courts that it’s unconstitutional to do that,” said Wagner, 85. “He’s weaponized the FBI to get at his political opponents.”

The poll findings suggest that many Democrats continue to view Trump as a threat to democracy after he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election , embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and threatened to seek retribution against his opponents if he wins reelection.

But they also indicate that many of Trump’s supporters agree with him that Biden is the real threat to democracy. Trump and his allies have accused Biden of weaponizing the Justice Department as it has pursued charges against the former president over his effort to halt certification of the 2020 election and keeping classified documents, though there is no evidence Biden has had any involvement or influence in the cases .

Trump has framed himself as a defender of American values and portrayed Biden as a “destroyer" of democracy. He said multiple times after he survived an assassination attempt last month that he “took a bullet for democracy.”

The poll, conducted in the days after Biden dropped out of the race and Harris announced her campaign, is an early glimpse of Americans' views of a reshaped contest.

Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say democracy could be at risk in this election depending on who wins the presidency, responses generally in line with the findings when the question was last asked in an AP-NORC poll in December 2023 .

Hanson, the Wisconsin Democrat, said she worries Trump in a second term would use the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court to overrule important freedoms. She also is concerned that he would fill his Cabinet with loyalists who don’t care about the well-being of everyone in the country and defund agencies that regulate key functions of society.

But Wagner, the New York Republican, brushed off those concerns and pointed to Trump’s time in office.

“When he was in the White House, we had peace, we had prosperity, we had energy independence,” he said. “What’s undemocratic about that?”

He said he didn't think Trump's intentions leading up to and on Jan. 6 were criminal.

“I just think he was misguided," Wagner said.

Some independents also are carefully considering the stakes of the upcoming election on the country’s democratic future.

“I believe that this is the most important election of my lifetime,” said 53-year-old Patricia Seliga-Williams of LaVale, Maryland, an independent who is leaning toward voting for Harris.

Seliga-Williams said she’s barely scraping by on $15 an hour as a hotel breakfast attendant and remembers Trump handling the economy and immigration well. But she didn’t like it when he recently quipped that he plans to be a “dictator” on day one in office.

“We all know Donald Trump could run the country,” she said. “But he’s just too aggressive anymore, and I don’t think I can trust that as a voter.”

Not everyone agrees that this year's presidential election will be an inflection point for the country's democracy, offering starkly different reasons, according to the AP-NORC poll. About 2 in 10 Americans say democracy in the U.S. is strong enough to withstand the outcome of the election no matter who wins, while another 2 in 10 believe democracy is already so seriously broken that the outcome doesn’t matter.

The poll also shows the stakes of democracy in the election are felt more by older adults rather than younger ones. About half of adults 45 and older say the outcome of the election is extremely important for the future of democracy, compared to about 4 in 10 adults under 45.

“Making the claim that the other candidate is trying to destroy democracy, it doesn’t really land for me,” said Daniel Oliver, 26, an independent from suburban Detroit. “I think that we have things in place that should safeguard against when you kind of play at destroying democracy. We have other branches of government. We have people that believe in voting. So, it would be hard for a candidate to take over and become some kind of dictator.”

He said he’ll be looking for candidates to talk about issues he’s more interested in, such as reducing inflation and investing in clean energy sources.

Biden and Trump spent months sparring over whose second term would be worse for democracy. The president nodded to the consequences when he ended his campaign last month, saying in his Oval Office address that "the defense of democracy is more important than any title.”

Harris has focused more on the concept of “freedom” in the early days of her campaign. She has said Trump’s reelection could result in Americans losing the freedom to vote , the freedom to be safe from gun violence and the freedom for women to make decisions about their own bodies. Her debut campaign ad last month was set to Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom,” and it has become a campaign anthem for her at rallies ever since.

Harris didn't mention democracy in her first two presidential campaign rallies, but she returned to the topic in remarks to Sigma Gamma Rho sorority members in Houston last week, saying “our fundamental freedoms are on the ballot, and so is our democracy.”

The poll of 1,143 adults was conducted July 25-29, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

"What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"   Criteria  -    Record your original 3–5-minute (+ or – 5 second max.) audio essay on a flash drive, or other electronic device. You will submit the recording,   - Typed essay and this completed entry form.   - Provide these items to your school/group competition or VFW Post for judging. You must be the sole author of your essay.   - The recording must be in your own voice and in English. No music, singing, poetry or sound effects are allowed. The body of the essay must not identify you in any way, (including, but not limited to your name, school, city, state, race, or national origin) although the recording & typed essay should be labeled with your name, to show ownership.   - Your Voice of Democracy entry must be submitted to a participating VFW Post by the  Oct. 31 deadlines . Applications and Downloadable Forms Below   Voice of Democracy Rules and Eligibility

2023-2024 Official Entry Form Voice of Democracy Competition

• Christopher Ford - Bayport/Bluepoint High School
• Dean Badamo - Patchogue-Medford High School
• Joseph Badamo - Patchogue-Medford High School

Address 32 Edwards St Patchogue, NY 11772-3932 Contact Us via Email Phone: (631) 289-1663

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YOUTH ESSAYS

Youth Scholarships

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

Voice of Democracy

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the  2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"

About the 2023-2024 winner ...

Sophia Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Sophia's speech on the theme, "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" won her a $35,000 college scholarship. Sophia was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513.  Watch as Sophia delivered her speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or  read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full  Parade of Winners ceremony  which was streamed live on Facebook, or  see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s  Patriot’s Pen  youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place 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. Before submitting your essay,  download the 2024-2025 entry form here  and  find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay  during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or  read  his essay here.  See the complete list of 2024 national winners .

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Democracy challenged

‘A Crisis Coming’: The Twin Threats to American Democracy

Credit... Photo illustration by Matt Chase

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By David Leonhardt

David Leonhardt is a senior writer at The Times who won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Great Recession.

• Published Sept. 17, 2022 Updated June 21, 2023

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The United States has experienced deep political turmoil several times before over the past century. The Great Depression caused Americans to doubt the country’s economic system. World War II and the Cold War presented threats from global totalitarian movements. The 1960s and ’70s were marred by assassinations, riots, a losing war and a disgraced president.

These earlier periods were each more alarming in some ways than anything that has happened in the United States recently. Yet during each of those previous times of tumult, the basic dynamics of American democracy held firm. Candidates who won the most votes were able to take power and attempt to address the country’s problems.

The current period is different. As a result, the United States today finds itself in a situation with little historical precedent. American democracy is facing two distinct threats, which together represent the most serious challenge to the country’s governing ideals in decades.

The first threat is acute: a growing movement inside one of the country’s two major parties — the Republican Party — to refuse to accept defeat in an election.

The violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress , meant to prevent the certification of President Biden’s election, was the clearest manifestation of this movement, but it has continued since then. Hundreds of elected Republican officials around the country falsely claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Some of them are running for statewide offices that would oversee future elections, potentially putting them in position to overturn an election in 2024 or beyond.

“There is the possibility, for the first time in American history, that a legitimately elected president will not be able to take office,” said Yascha Mounk, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University who studies democracy.

Vote Margins by State in Presidential Elections since 1988

Senate representation by state.

Residents of less populated states like Wyoming and North Dakota, who are disproportionately white, have outsize influence.

1 voter in Wyoming

has similar representation as

1 voter in North Dakota

6 voters in Connecticut

7 voters in Alabama

18 voters in Michigan

59 voters in California

has similar

representation as

Landslides in 2020 House Elections

There were about twice as many districts where a Democratic House candidate won by at least 50 percentage points as there were districts where a Republican candidate won by as much.

Landslide (one candidate won

by at least 50 percentage points)

Barbara Lee

Calif. District 13

Jerry Nadler

N.Y. District 10

Diana DeGette

Colo. District 1

Donald Payne Jr.

N.J. District 10

Jesús García

Ill. District 4

Landslide (one candidate won by at least 50 percentage points)

Presidential Appointments of Supreme Court Justices

Supreme Court appointments

Presidential election winners

Popular vote

Electoral College

Party that nominated a justice

David H. Souter (until 2009)

Clarence Thomas

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (until 2020)

Stephen G. Breyer (until 2022)

John G. Roberts Jr.

Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Sonia Sotomayor

Elena Kagan

Neil M. Gorsuch

Brett M. Kavanaugh

Amy Coney Barrett

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Supreme Court

Presidential election

nominated a justice

Souter (until 2009)

Ginsburg (until 2020)

Breyer (until 2022)

State Legislators and Election Lies

The share of Republican state legislators who have taken steps, as of May 2022, to discredit or overturn the 2020 presidential election results

Pennsylvania

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