The program is organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a nonprofit based in the US made up of veterans and other military service members. VFW organizes a variety of programs and services to support veterans, communities, service members, and military families.
To enter the Patriotic Audio Essay Competition, students must record a 3-5 minute audio essay on a flash drive or similar device. A typed copy and a completed entry form must also be submitted along with the recording to the student’s local VFW Post. In Alexandria, the local post is 609. The essay must be based on the annual theme: “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”
For a complete list of the rules and requirements of the program, view the entry form or the program page.
VFW’s Voice of Democracy program was first started in 1947 and now gives thousands of high school students around the country a chance to win scholarship money from a pool of $1 million dollars. As a competitive program, entries go up against several others. After being chosen on the post level, an essay goes on to the state level where it can win a student $1000. After state level, an essay goes to national level, where the winner receives a $35,000 scholarship.
Students interested in submitting an essay should get working now, as all applications must be submitted by October 31 at midnight.
Student submissions may be sent to Colleen Wallace at the following address or emailed to her at [email protected]:
Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program
VFW, Russell Mitchell Post 609
c/o Colleen Wallace, Chairman
1450 Wilkes Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
She may also be contacted at 703-313-4813 if you have any questions.
