Calling all Parents of Teens!

The Waltham Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2152 announced the kick-off of this year’s VFW "Patriot’s Pen" (PP) and "Voice of Democracy" (VOD) competition. Local middle school students have the opportunity to compete for college money in the PP essay competition. High school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships by entering the VOD competition.

Students begin by competing at the local VFW Post level, with an entry deadline of Nov. 1, 2013 for each category. Prizes are awarded to winners at each post, district, and state levels before moving on to the National finals.

Both PP and VOD State winners will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C., where a total of $152,000 will be awarded to national finalists. The first-place VOD prize is a $30,000 college scholarship, and $5000 is awarded to the PP winner.

Students in the PP competition must write a 300- to 400-word essay on this year’s theme, "What Patriotism Means to Me." VOD competitors must write and record a three to five minute essay on the theme "Why I’m Optimistic About Our Country’s Future" on an audio cassette tape or audio CD. All entries are to be submitted to the local VFW Post by the Nov. 1 deadline. Interested students, including home-schooled students, and/or their teachers should contact David Williams at 781-999-3690 or David.Williams003@umb.edu for more information on completing entry forms and contest rules.