Patriot's Pen

Each year, more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 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. 

Patriot's Pen

VFW  Awards - The 2021-22 theme is: 

How Can I Be a Good American?

• Dan Sherwood - VFW Representative here from the Fairport Harbor VFW Post 7754

• Participation: - All received a VFW Backpack:

  Annaleigh Gamino
  Makayla Powalie
  Aurora Johnson
  Irelyn Swan
  Luke Connell
  Eternity Reed
  Payton Hill

• 1st place: Brooklynn Reglus

• 2nd place: Issac Robinson

• 3rd place: Rmani Pearson

2020-2021 VFW Contest Winners

 

Thank you to Auburn Career Center students in the Instructional Media Technology class for creating the video of our assembly. 

Please download and read our Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy  - Fall 2016 Winners

VFW Winning Essays

Patriot's Pen Winners - "The America I Believe In"

• 1st place: James Dean Spiesman
• Runners Up:  
  • Tierny DeGidio
  • Connor Hulett
  • Ryan Heller 
  • Joseph Tanker

Voice of Democracy Winners - "My Responsibility to America"

• 1st place: Jessie Smith
• 2nd place: Gabby Palmer
• 3rd place: Marcus Toreki

Voice of Democracy District 7 Winner - March 25, 2017

Gabby Palmer was invited to the local VFW Saturday, March 25, 2017, for a lovely awards presentation. Gabby also won 2nd place for the entire District which encompasses 5 counties (Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Medina, and Cuyahoga).  She was unable to attend the District awards ceremony as she was in the
musical the weekend they gave out the awards.  A representative from District 7 came to the dinner and gave her a medal, a plaque and $500.  So in total,
she won $300 from the local VFW Post 7754, $75 from the local women's auxiliary and $500 from the Ohio District 7 VFW. Congratulations Gabby Palmer. Please download a few pictures from the event here.

Please download and read our Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy  - Fall 2017 Winners

Patriot's Pen Essay Winners - Fall 2017 - Congratulations to our Middle School Patriot's Pen Essay Winners!

• 1st place: Morgan Braemer
• 2nd place: Emily Luke
• 3rd place: Natalie Gladding 

Representatives from the VFW Post 7754 came to present awards to each of these students for their winning essays. Commander Kalal, President of the Essay Contests Mr. Sherwood and VFW Secretary Janet Merrick were at Fairport Harding High School to present awards. The theme for this year's contest was: America's Gift to My Generation. There were just over 70 essays submitted from grades 6-8 from just Fairport Harding Jr. High to the local VFW Post 7754. Mrs. Merrick shared the great news that 8th grader Morgan Braemer's first-place essay has placed third in the district and has moved on to the state competition. We wish Morgan Braemer the best and are very proud of her accomplishments!! Congrats again to all of our essay winners.

Voice of Democracy Winners - Fall 2017 - Congratulations to our High School Voice of Democracy Winners!

• 1st place: Maya Hess

• 2nd place: Adam Wilson

• 3rd place: Angie Gutekunst

Just under 50 high school students competed in the Voice of Democracy speech contest this year. Students in grades 9-12 had to write a speech and then record it. Auburn Career Center's IMT students came to Fairport earlier in October and then created the audio recordings on CDs for our students to submit to the Fairport VFW. Thank you to all who participated and shared their opinions on America's Future! Well done to our three high school speech winners! Around September of next school year, please be on the lookout for next year's annual VFW Voice of Democracy contest and be sure to submit yours! 

If you would like to watch Morgan Braemer and Maya Hess deliver their winning speeches, please watch the video on Youtube below:  

(Video Credits: Auburn Career Center Instructional Media Technology Program)