VFW Post 3513 is honored to share the stories and talents of our local students through the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ premier youth scholarship programs, Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen. Established in 1947, these national VFW contests invite students to explore what democracy, service, and patriotism mean in their own lives, and to express those ideas through written and recorded essays that can earn scholarship awards at the local, state, and national levels.​

About Voice of Democracy

Voice of Democracy is a recorded audio-essay competition open to high school students in grades 9–12, giving them a platform to share their perspectives on an annual patriotic theme while competing for significant scholarship opportunities. Each year, tens of thousands of students from across the country participate, with national scholarships totaling more than $2 million, including a top award of $35,000 for education.​

About Patriot’s Pen

Patriot’s Pen is a written essay contest for students in grades 6–8, encouraging them to develop their writing skills while thinking deeply about American history, civic responsibility, and what patriotism looks like today. More than 60,000 middle school students take part nationwide each year, competing for nearly $1 million in scholarships and awards, including a $5,000 national first-place prize.​

Why Post 3513 Embraces These Programs

VFW Post 3513 proudly supports Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen because these programs connect generations—allowing veterans to hear directly from the young people they served to protect, while students gain a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices that preserve their freedoms. By sponsoring, promoting, and judging these contests each year, Post 3513 invests in future leaders, strengthens community ties, and keeps the values of service, democracy, and patriotism alive in our schools and neighborhoods.​

Celebration of This Year’s Participants

This year’s entries made judging both challenging and inspiring, as students brought creativity, courage, and heart to the themes for both programs. Every participant should be proud of the work they submitted, and VFW Post 3513 is deeply grateful to our students, families, and educators for helping keep this proud VFW tradition thriving since 1947.​

Presented below are the winners for both the Post 3513 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests.