VFW PATRIOT’S PEN ESSAY CONTEST

The Post #26 Patriots Pen winners for 2011 from Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School are First Place Kristie Bracaglia, Second Place Eric Partridge, and Third Place Hannah Roof. There were 13 essays submitted. To view the Winning Essay by Kristie Bracaglia click here.

The Patriot's Pen program is a National contest open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has approved this contest for its National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.

The 2011 year's theme was: "Are You Proud of Your Country? " Essays had to be no less than 300 words and could not exceed 400 words. Entries were submitted to VFW Post #26, no later than November 1, 2010.

Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points. Content is worth 35 points. Delivery is worth 35 points.

The contest consists of four levels. The first level is sponsored by local VFW Posts. Post winners advance to the VFW District level where the one first-place winner is advanced to the VFW Department (State) level. The one first-place winner at the Department level is then advanced into the VFW National competition. The winner from each Department then competes for the national prizes.

The National Prizes include the various amounts of U.S. Savings Bonds listed below:

1st: $10,000 Bond plus an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and a parent or guardian.

2nd: $8,000 Bond

3rd: $7,000 Bond

4th: $5,500 Bond

5th: $5,000 Bond

6th: $4,000 Bond

7th: $3,500 Bond

8-9th: $3,000 Bond

10-11th: $2,500 Bond

12-13th: $2,000 Bond

14-15th: $1,500 Bond

16-46th: $1,000 Bond