November 22, 2021
Pocatello’s VFW Post 735 and the VFW Post 735 Auxiliary have announced the winners of their annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen competitions.
Winners of the Patriot’s Pen contest were:
1st Place, Jenna Bree Moncur
2nd Place, Isaac S. Summeril
3rd Place, Cole Knapp and Heidi Crowder
Winners of the Voice of Democracy contest were:
1st Place, Michael Anthony Hoskin
2nd Place, Forrest C. Morgan
3rd Place, Zoe E. Zufelt
VFW Post 735 President Doreen Ray and VFW Post 735 Commander Richard Hollingsworth presented certificates, medals, and monetary awards to the winners.
Each year, VFW Post 735 and Auxiliary members provide all schools with middle and high school aged students in the area with application materials.
Each year, VFW hosts two youth scholarship competitions, Patriot’s Pen, for students in grades 6 through 8, and Voice of Democracy, for students in grades 9 through 12. Students compete for scholarships worth thousands of dollars in the competitions that are designed to foster patriotism. Students in public, private, parochial, and home study programs in the United States, its territories or its possessions may enter. Entries for both competitions must be submitted to a local VFW post by midnight on October 31.
Patriot’s Pen is an essay competition. Students must submit an essay of no less than 300 words and no more than 400 words on the designated theme, along with the entry form. This year’s theme was, “How Can I Be a Good American.”
Voice of Democracy is a speaking competition. Students must submit a reading of their speech on audio CD or flash drive, along with the entry form, to a local VFW Post. Speeches must be no shorter than three minutes and no longer than five minutes (+/- five second). This year’s theme was, “America: Where Do We Go From Here?”
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization (VSO) comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.
The VFW has many programs and services that work to support veterans, service members and their families, as well as communities worldwide. You can check out their latest fact sheet or spend some time browsing our site to learn why, according to their motto, “No One Does More For Veterans.”
To learn more, visit: https://vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships
VFW Post 735 is the local post in Pocatello. You can learn more about VFW Post 735 on their Facebook page, here: Local VFW Pocatello, ID (post735vfw.org)
Editor’s Note: In addition to the VFW, other VSO’s hold annual competition for students, including essay and speech competitions, that encourage patriotism in America’s youth. you can find articles with details regarding such contests sponsored by the American Legion and Fleet Reserve Association, in addition to the VFW, by searching the name of the VSO, or, “student contest,” in the pocatellochubbuckobserver.com search bar, located at the top right-hand section of our website.
