The Veterans of Foreign Wars believes strongly in good citizenship and fostering patriotism. That’s why we encourage youthful minds to examine our nation’s history and their own experiences in modern American society through our Patriot’s Pen youth essay-writing contest.  Annually, roughly 112,000, students from grades 6-8, enter to win prizes totaling $1.2 million, as well as an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the National first place winner.