Calling all Middle and High School Students, their Teachers and Parents, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is calling upon all Middle and High School Students to take part in the V.F.W.'s Youth Essay competitions.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (Grades 6-8), from Public, Private and even Home School are strongly encouraged to participate in The Patriot's Pen Youth Essay Contest, where student write a 300 to 400 word essay on this years Topic: "Why America's Veterans Should Be Honored". The Grand Prize of the Best Entry in the United States is an $10,000 United States Savings Bond and there are prizes for the best entries judged by VFW Judging Panels at the Post, District, and Department.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (9-12) also from Public, Private and Home School are strongly urged to participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, where the Student Competes for a National Grand Prize of $30,000 Scholarship. To Enter, the student must write an audio script (Essay) on the 2008-09 Voice of Democracy Topic: "Service and Sacrifice by America's Veterans Benefit Today's Youth by..." The Script is to be recorded (Cassette or Digitally on Audio CD) and must be 3 to 5 minutes in length (+/- 5 seconds). Like the Patriot's Pen there are prizes to be awarded to the best as judged by V.F.W. Judging Panels at the Post, District and Department (State) levels.

STUDENTS: To enter these contests, go to your School's or Home School Association's (Association) Language Arts Coordinator and pick up an entry brochure and follow the directions listed for the contest and turn the entry back into the Coordinator for initial judging at the School/Association level.

TEACHERS/COORDINATORS: Your School/Association's entries need to be judged at your level, and entries are to be submitted to Post 9143 at a ratio of 1 entry forwarded for every 15 entries submitted at the School/Association. Deadline for submission at the VFW Post is November 1st. If your School/Association has not received entry brochures, email me immediately at vfw@mcmahon-ga.net and I will send you a pdf file for the entry brochure. Make sure in your email that you specify what contest you are requesting: Patriot's Pen (grades 6-8) or Voice of Democracy (Grades 9-12).

TEACHERS & PARENTS: I cannot recommend a better program to you to have your students compete in, as these contests are a WIN-WIN-WIN: Students win as they can win prizes for competing; Teachers/Educators/Parents win as their students practice and use proper essay writing techniques, improving their learned skills; and The United States win as these programs promote Patriotism, a love of our nation what those of us who served in harms way showed by placing our lives on the line to defend.

I would like to, in advance, thank all who will participate in these programs!

Michael McMahon
District 9 Youth Essay Chairman
V.F.W. Department of GA

With only 2 weeks until the deadline for schools to submit entries to the Forsyth County VFW Post, only one school (Little Mill Middle School) has submitted any entries out of 8 Middle Schools and 6 High Schools (Including Forsyth Academy and Piedmont Learning Center). I find it a shame that educators and administrators do not take advantage of these programs, that promote writing skills and, in the case of the Voice of Democracy, public speaking skills. Teachers, Administrators and Parents, time is running out, get your students to participate in the program for their grade level and give them a chance to win money for their future education.

Michael McMahon
Patriot's Pen & Voice of Democracy Chairman
District 9, VFW Department of Georgia

Less than one week left until all entries are due at Post 9143. Just a reminder to all Teachers and Home School Association members, entries must be judged by your School or Home School Association first, and you are allowed 1 entry for every 15 essays, or part thereof. Entries must be at Post 9143 by 1 November 2008.

I find it appalling that in a county with four High Schools and seven Middle Schools that only one Home Schooled High School Student and three Middle School Students (including Home Schooled) participated in these programs.

What is the problem with our School District, not being able to facilitate their students to participate in these patriotic competitions. Is it that our schools do not believe in patriotism, due to the Liberal Left philosophy that is being peddled upon America's children by educators and their Unions.

I say Shame on The Board of Education, the Superintendent, and all of the Principals and Teachers at the Middle and High Schools of Forsyth County, who did not participate, allow the participation of their students, or promote the programs to their students, as these programs promote writing development and oratory skills. Not to mention that the programs have been approved, by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, in their National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.

I guess in these days of economic turmoil our students couldn't use scholarships and other financial rewards, if they can win the Post, District, State or National Competitions, as there are prizes awarded at every level of the competition.

Michael McMahon
Patriot's Pen & Voice of Democracy Chairman
District 9, VFW Department of Georgia