VFW Post 2359 – Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2359 invites 6th to 8th grade students to participate in the 2026-2027 Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest.

Each year, more than 800,000 students in 6th through 8th grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen annual youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 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.

This year's Theme is “What a Veteran Taught Me About America.”

Applications must be submitted by October 31, 2026.

Click Below to download the Brochure and Entry Form.

Patriot's Pen 2026-2027 Entry Form

To enter, please email completed form and essay to: post2359@vfwma.org

Or mail completed form and essay to:

VFW Post 2359 - Attn: Patriots Pen

5 Conant Street, Danvers, MA 01923