Each year, the Manchester Veterans of Foreign Wars All-American Post 10904 hosts two essay competitions for area students.
The Patriot’s Pen contest gives students in grades 6-8 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; the national first place winner wins $5,000. Students submit a typed essay 300-400 words in length. The theme of this year’s contest was “What is Patriotism to Me?”
The Voice of Democracy audio-essay program, open to students in grades 9-12, is comprised of a typed message, along with an audio recording 3-5 minutes in length. The first-place winner from each VFW State Department wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000; the national first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship. The theme of this year’s competition was “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?”
A total of 51 students from four schools submitted essays for the Patriot’s Pen contest and 24 students entered the Voice of Democracy competition. The top 3 submissions for each will advance to the District level, where they will be judged alongside winning entries from ten area VFW Posts by mid-December. District winners will move to the State finals; those winners advance to the national finals.
An awards ceremony will be held at VFW Post 10904 January 11, 2021 for our winners and their families.
Winners in the 2020 Patriot’s Pen Competition:
1st place: James Farless, 7th grade, Temple Baptist School
2nd place: Chandler Grace Meacham, 8th grade, Westwood Middle School
3rd place: Keena Elizabeth Seivers, 8th grade, Westwood Middle School
4th place: Sydney Reagan Wells, 8th grade, Westwood Middle School
5th place: Mariah Stewart, 8th grade, Temple Baptist School
Winners in the 2020 Voice of Democracy Competition:
1st place: David Tran, 10th grade, Webb School
2nd place: Lexie Stewart, 12th grade, Temple Baptist School
3rd place: Lauren Perry, 11th grade, Coffee County Central High School
4th place: Grace Butler, 12th grade, Temple Baptist School
Congratulations to all of our winners and a heartfelt “thank you” to all students who submitted entries!
For more information and to stay current on the latest VFW news, visit our website at www.vfwpost10904.com Manchester VFW Post 10904 130 Shelton Road Manchester, TN 37355
