Chairman
Faye Rush
This year’s themes for the Auxiliary ring so very true. "Every Day is Veterans Day” and "From Sea to Shining Sea Honoring Veterans” covers so many perspectives and these are thoughts we should live by from an Auxiliary standpoint as these are the primary reasons we do what we do. How fitting that this year, the National President’s special project is the Continuing Education Scholarship and the Voice of Democracy/Patriot Pen theme this program year is "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for our Country”. By engaging in these programs, we help to share a vision that the youth of today should understand and come to appreciate if they do not already. By interacting in these programs, we gain the ability to cover all age groups which plays to our benefit in the long run. The majority of the scholarship programs allow these young individuals to display their creativity at different levels. All we have to do is get out the word and encourage these young individuals to take that first step. It could make all the difference. Reach out to your local schools, call the administration and find out who your contacts are for these different specialties. Remember to also reach out to your home school students because that could be a whole new vein. There is a growing volume of students that have selected a home school environment in the last few years and we should remember them as a solid resource. By educating ourselves and our youth, the future will be a bright one by ensuring our youth have the means to fulfill their potential.
Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.3 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.
Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 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.
