PUTNAM — Commander Norman Beaupre and Auxiliary President Lorraine LaCroix of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Albert J. Breault Post 1523, announce the kick-off of the VFW’s annual Patriot’s Pen youth essay competition. Middle school students in grades 6-8 in public, private, parochial schools or being home-schooled have the opportunity to compete and win thousands of dollars in national awards. 

Deadline for student entries is Oct. 31 and interested students should contact their schools office and teachers.  For more information contact Patriot’s Pen Chairman Lisa Salisbury by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

The VFW enacted the Patriot’s Pen competition in 1995 to encourage young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society by composing a 300- to 400-word patriotic-themed essay. The theme for the 2017-2018 competition is “America’s Gift to My Generation”. 

Students begin by competing at the local Post level. Post winners advance to District competition with District winners advancing to the state competition. State first-place winners compete for their share of thousands of dollars in awards, and the national first-place winner is awarded $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.