VFW For Students
National Programs
On the national level, the VFW sponsors several initiatives regarding the development of patriotism and creating educational opportunities for America's young people. Those initiatives include:
Voice of Democracy
The Voice of Democracy, endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' contest criteria, is an audio essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12. The annual contest, which is designed to foster patriotism, allows students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay based on an annual theme.
Created in 1947, the scholarship program annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. Each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., plus the opportunity to compete for national scholarships. The first-place national winner receives a $25,000 scholarship.
The VFW's National Citizenship Education Teachers' Award recognizes the nation's top elementary, junior high and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics regularly and promote America's history and traditions. Fellow teachers, supervisors or other interested individuals should submit nominations to Post 5702 by November 1 st . VFW's National citizenship education teacher awards include:
· $1,000 cash award for professional development to each of the top K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 teachers;
· $1,000 award for each winning teacher's school;
· plaques for both the winning teacher and school;
· an all-expense-paid trip to attend the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary National Community Service Conference in Washington, D.C. Teachers who win first place in each category will be invited to conduct a workshop at the conference.
Click here for a copy of the entry form.
Click here to view a presentation that provides highlights of this program.
Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest, is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades 6, 7, and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy. Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the contest.
Contestants write a 300-400 word essay based on an annual patriotic theme. The first-place winner receives a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. The top national winners each receive a savings bond anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.
Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay, to VFW Post 5702 by November 1 st .
Click here for a copy of the entry form.
Click here to view a presentation that provides highlights of this program.
Scholarship Information
Because of the numerous requests for a scholarship program directed at those in uniform and their families, the VFW is developing a VFW Military Scholarship Program for introduction in the near future.
Post 5702 Initiatives
Post 5702 supports the national programs, but has developed additional initiatives that meet local needs. These include:
Voice of Democracy - Post 5702 supports the Voice of Democracy program by sponsoring the essay contests in both Ramapo and Indian Hills High Schools. Students interested in participating in this program should contact the Social Studies Department Supervisors in their respective schools.
Citizenship Awards - These monetary awards are given annually to a deserving student in each middle school in Franklin Lakes and Oakland. The Pat Menella Citizenship Award is given each year to a deserving eighth grader at the Franklin Avenue Middle School in Franklin Lakes. An eighth grader from the Valley Middle School is the recipient of the The Joe Farrarella Citizenship Award.
Scouting Awards - Monetary awards are also given each year to any boy scout who achieves the rank of Eagle Scout or any girl scout who achieves Gold Award status.
Education Project - Members of Post 5702 have fought in many different wars during many different eras, and on many different continents. We represent living history, and in an effort to communicate patriotic principles, love of country, and impart our accumulated wisdom, we have organized an effort to share our experiences with children in the Middle Schools in Oakland and Franklin Lakes. This effort includes having students read an original short story that outlines the role of VFW Post 5702 in the community as well as outlining the history, goals and objectives of the VFW on the national level.
To read the original short story VFW Meeting, click one of the following links:
In our Education Project, we would also like to provide some information that will help meet the needs of high school students. By clicking on the links below, students can access two short stories taken from Post member Doug Neralich's book: Dear Donna, It's Only 45 Hours from Bien Hoa . From a historical point of view, the stories provide information concerning what the experiences of soldiers were like during the Vietnam War. The multiple-choice and/ or open-ended questions found at the end of each story can also be used to help students prepare for the HSPA exam. To access those stories, click the buttons below.
Students needing additional information about the VFW, the American Flag, and patriotic topics should visit these links:
http://www.VFW.org
http://www.VA.gov
http://www.va.gov/kids/
http://www.Smithsonianeducation.org/students/
http://www.Legion.org
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